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SIX    MONTHS    TOUR 

THROUGH    THE 

NORTH  of  ENGLAND. 


CONTAINING, 

An    Account    of    the    prefent    State    of    Agriculturej 

IWanufac  ruRiis    and    Population,    in   feveral 

Counties  of  this  Kingdom. 


p  A  R  T  I  e 

%  The  Nature,  Value,  and  Rental 
of  the  Soil. 

31.  The  Size  of  Farms,  with  Ac- 
counts of  their  Stock,  Produdls, 
Population,  and  various  Methods 
cf  Culture. 

III.  The  Ufe,  Expence,  and  ProSt 
of  feveral  Sorts  of  Manure. 

IV.  The  Breed  of  Cattle,  and  the 
refpeiflivej'rofits  attending  them. 

V.  The  State  of  the  Wafte  Lands 
■which  might  and  ought  to  be 
cultivated. 


U  L  A  R  L  Yi 

VI.  The  Condition  and  Number  of 
the  Poor,  with  their  Rates, 
Earnings,  ^c. 

VII.  The  Prices  of  Labour  and 
Provifions,  and  the  Proportion 
between  them. 

Vill.  The  Regifter  of  many  curious 
and  ufcful  Experiments  in  Agri- 
culture, and  general  Praftices  ia 
rural  Oeconomics,  communicated 
by  feveral  of  the  Nobility,  Gen- 
try, &c.  (3'e4 


INTERSPERSED 
"With  Defcrlptions  of  the  Seats  of  the  Nobility  and  Gentry  • 
and  other  remarkable  Objefts  :  Illuflrated  with  Copper  Plates  of 
fuch  Implements  of  Hufbandry,  as  deferve  to  be  generally  known  • 
and  Views  of  fome  piifturefque  Scenes,  which  occurred  in  the  Courfs 
of  the  Journey. 


La  feule  vole  de  fe  procurer  un  corps  complet  d'agriculture  feroit,  fans 
doute,  de  raffembler  les  diverfes  obfervationS  qu'auroient  fourni  dans 
•haque  province.  Enc  vclopedie. 

VOL.     IIL 


L    O    N    D    O    Ni 

Printed  for  W.  Strahan;    W.  Nicoll,    N°5i.    in  St. 

Paul's  Church-yard ;    B.Collins,    at  Salilburyj 

and  J,   Balfour,    at   Edinburgh. 

M  DCC  LXX. 


/  «4-  s 

CONTENTS 

O    F 

VOLUME      III. 


S 


L  E    T  T  E  R    XV. 

TATE  of  hujhandry  from  Raby  to  New- 
caftle  —  Culture  of  mujlard  at  Durham 
—  Mr.  Carr'j  feat  at  Cocken  —  Town 
of  Newcaftle  —  Collieries  —  Ironworks^ 

P.  I  to  \6, 

LETTER      XVI. 

Huflmndry  from  Newcaftle  to  Carlifle  —  "Duke 
of  Northumberland'^  at  Alnwick  —  Mr, 
Dixon'j  at  Belford  —  His  fpirited  works  — 
His  experiments  in  agriculture  —  On  draining 
—  On  laying  land  to  grafs  —  On  cabbages  — 
On  fences  —  Mr.  Clarke'j  experiments  —  Im- 
plements —  Moor  hufhandry  —  Vafl  moors 
wajle  —  Mr.  WilkieV  experiments  —  On  car- 
rots —  Cheviot  hills  —  Extenfive  zvaftes  highly 
A  2  improve'^ 


W  CONTENTS. 

impro'veable  —  Reraa^-ks  —  Wretched  manage" 
ment  of  Jhcep  —  5/>  Walter  BlacketV  at^o\- 
lington  —  Bis  excellent  fences  —  Vafi  tracks 
cf  excellent  land  wafte  —  Military  way  —  Ro- 
man wall  —  General  remarks  en  the  hufhandry 
of  Northumberland,  P.  i6  to  1 16. 

LETTER    XVII. 

'TrDm  Carlifle  to  Kendal  —  Mamif azures  at  Car- 
jifle  —  Vafi  tracks  cf  wajle  land  —  Kefwick 

—  The  Lake  and  wonderful  environs  -—  Moun- 
tains —  Rocks  —  Cafcades  —  Ulles  water  — 
Beautiful  fcenes  —  Sir  James  Lowther'j,    at 

.  Lovvther —  His  excellent  efiahlifhment  in  favour 
ef  marriage  —  Haw's  water  —  Fine  landfcapes 

—  Vafi  uncultivated  moors  from  Shapp  to  Ken- 
dal —  Manufactures  at  Kendal  —  Winnan- 
der  mcer  —  Glorious  Lake  —  Beautiful  fcenes 

—  Mountains  —  Jflands  —  Tour  of  the  Lake 

—  Amazing  and  mofl  fuperlative  profpe^^ 

P.  ii6  to  1 88. 

LETTER      XVIII. 

^rom  Kendal    to   Manchefler  —  Lancader  — 
Marling  —  Culture  of  potatoes  — Different  forts 

4 


CONTENTS.  V 

ef  marie  —  ManufaEliires  at  Warrington  —  At 
Prefect  —  I'own  of  Le  verpool  —  Exchange  — 
St.  PaulV  —  Nohle  docks  —  Mr.  Parke'j  ex- 
perhnents  on  the  improvement  of  bogs  —  Ma- 
nufa^lures  at  Manchefter,         P.  i88  10250, 

LETTER    XIX. 

tour  of  the  Duke  of  Bridgwater*j  navigation  — 
Defcription  of  the  zvorks  at  Manchefter  — • 
Excellent  contrivance  for  unloading  the  boats  — 
The  wear  —  Remarks  —  Canal  carried  acrofs 
the  river  Irwell  at  Barton  Bridge  —  Admira- 
ble inventions  for  moving  earth  —  Difcovery  of 
lime  —  Vafi  works  carrying  on  at  Worfley  — 
The  tunnel  —  Waggons  for  the  conveyance  of 
the  coal —  A  mill  of  a  new  confiruEiion :  Va^ 
riety  of  powers  —  Improvement  of  a  morafs  — 
The  canal  at  Waterford  —  Carried  acrofs  the 
Merfey  —  Immenfe  works  at  Sale  moor  — 
And  at  Dunham  —  Dejign  of  carrying  the  ca- 
val  to  Leverpool  —  Amazing  fchcme  —  Etif 
logy  en  the  noble  fpirit  of  the  Duke, 

P.  250  to  291. 


LET. 


vi  CONTENTS. 

LETTER     XX. 

From  Dunham  io  Birmingham  —  Method  of 
making  the  famous  Chefhire  cheefe  —  Manu- 
f azures  at  Knutsford  ■ —  Management  of  cows 
StafFordniire^o//m^j  at  Burflem,  &c.  —  Na- 
ligation  at  Harecaftle  —  Stupendous  under- 
inking  —  Manufa^ures  at  Newcaftle, 

P.  291  to  341. 

LETTER      XXI. 

Manufactures  at  Birmingham  —  The  Leafowes 
—  Elegant  landfcapes  —  Lord  Littleton'j  at 
Hagley  —  The  park  —  Woods  —  Cafcades  — 
Beautiful  and  pi£lurefque  fcenes, 

P.  341  to  361. 

LETTER     XXII. 

Hufhandry  from  Hagley  to  Oxford  —  Lord  Lit- 
tletonV  experiments  in  draining  —  Manufac- 
tures at  Worcefter  —  Excellent  hufhandry  in 
the  Vale  of  Evefham  —  Mr^  Penny 'j  experi- 
ments in  agriculture  —  On  planting  wheat  — 
Onfleeps  —  On  barley  —  On  Lucerne  —  Earl 
^/ Lichfield 'j  at  Ditchley,        P.  361  10410. 

LET- 


CONTENTS.  vii 

LETTER     XXIII. 

City  of  Oxford  —  General  GuifeV  pEiures  — 
Chrift's  Church —  RadclifFZi/^r^;^  —  Pic- 
ture gallery  —  Vomfret  Jlatues  —  Arundelian 
marbles  •—  Bodieian  Library^ 

P.  410  to  437. 


K   SIX 


A 

SIX  MONTHS  TOUR,  ^^, 

LETTER    XV. 

FROM  Rahy  to  Dut'ham  the  land  is 
in  general  very  good,  letting  fo  high 
as  from  1 5  j.  to  3  /.  but  the  average 
is  not  above  zis.  or  22  j.    Farms  in  general 
under  an  hundred  a-year. 

About  that  city  there  is  much  muftard 
cultivated  :  The  farmers  fow  it  alone,  on 
good  rich  moift  land  ;  and  on  that  which 
is  pared  and  burnt.  They  get  from  30  to 
3  00  bufhels  per  acre  ;  and  the  price  varies 
from  IOJ-.  to  7.0)3.  a  bufhel :  Some  crops 
worth  100/.  an  acre  have  been  known. 
When  once  muftard  has  been  fown  on  a 
piece  of  land,  it  can  never  begot  out  again: 
In  tillage  it  rifes  with  every  crop  that  is 
fown,  which  obliges  the  farmers  to  lay 
down  fuch  lands  to  grafs,  which  fmotbers 
it,  but  if  broke  up  again  centuries  after- 
wards, a  crop  of  muftard  is  fure  to  rife. 
Vol.  III.  B  Taking 


[      2      J 

Taking  the  road  to  Newcajlle,  we  flop- 
ped to  view  the  ornamented  grounds  of 

Carr,  Efq.j  at  Cocken,  which  are  laid 

out  with  fo  much  tafte,  that  it  is  a  great 
omiflion  in  any  traveller  to  pafs  without 
feeing  them  ;  that  Gentleman  and  his 
Lady,  Lady  Mary  Carr,  have  both  givert 
much  attention  to  the  aflifting  nature  in 
their  very  beautiful  Ipot,  by  rendering  her 
acceffible. 

Cocken  has  the  advantage  of  a  fine  river, 
in  fome  places  very  rapid,  and  in-  others 
calm  and  fmooth- ;  it  takes  a  very  fine  wav- 
ing courfe  through  the  grounds,  and  has 
the  noble  advantage  of  a  various  {hoar,  irt 
fome  places  compofed  of  noble  rocks,  in 
others  of  hanging  woods,  and  alfo  of  cul- 
tivated inclofures :  Art  has  juxiicioufly  aimed 
at  nothing  more  than,  enabling  the  fpefta- 
tor  to  view  thefe  beau-ties  to  the  bell:  ad- 
vantage. 

The  firft  point  to  which  we  were  con- 
duced, is  a  feat  in  a  fnaall  circular  plot, 
among  the  wood,  north  of  the  houfe,  from 
which  Chefi'er  fteeple  is  caught  in  a  very 
piifliwefque  manner,  between  two  project- 
ing hills  of  wood :  The  fpot  is  on  the  brink 
of  a  precipice,  at  the  bottom  of  which  the 

rivec 


[    3     ] 

river  bends  very  finely :  The  country  is  in 
general  wild  and  uncultivated,  but  to  the 
left  is  a  hill  of  wood,  which  varies  the 
fcene. 

Winding  a  little  to  the  left,  the  walk 
leads  to  the  dairy,  from  which,  though  very 
near  the  feat  juft  defcribed,  the  view  is  at 
once  quite  different.  The  country  is  now 
cultivated,  the  river  divides,  and  you  com- 
mand it  both  ways.  To  the  right  is  a  very 
fine  fear  of  rock,  nobly  crowned  with  pen- 
dent wood. 

You  are  next  condudled  down  the  hill, 
and  purfue  the  walk  around  a  find  large 
meadow  upon  the  banks  of  the  river  j  it 
then  enters  a  wood  under  a  moft  romantic 
wall  of  rock ;  the   walk  (a  terrafs  on  the 
edge  of  the  river)  is  totally  the  work  of  art, 
being  cut  out  of  the  rock  with  much  diffi- 
culty, and  at  a  great  expence.     The  ro- 
mantic fcenery  of  thefe  rocks  is  exceedingly 
fine,  for  oaks,  elms,  and  other  trees  grow 
out  of  every  cleft  to  a  great  height,  and 
hanging  over  your  head,  almofl  threaten 
you  as  you  move.     The  wild  imagination 
of  Salvatoi'  has  fcarcely  pidlured  any  thing 
more  flriking,  or  in  a  more  fpirited  flile 
than  this  variety  of  wood — breaking  forth 
B  2  from 


[  4  i 

from  the  craggy  clefts  and  chafms  of  thefe 
noble  rocks  :  This  intermixture  of  rock 
and  wood  is  truly  romantic  and  pidlurefque. 
The  river  aids  the  general  effedt,  by  the 
rapidity  of  its  current;  for  raging  over  rocks 
^nd  ftones,  the  roar  is  in  unifon  with  its 
fhoar,  and  all  together  tend  ftrongly  to 
imprefs  upon  the  mind  an  idea  of  awe  and 
terror. 

Advancing  through  this  noble  fcene,  the 
walk  leads  through  a  grafs  dale,  the  rocks 
are  loft,  and  the  whole  fcene  varied :  On 
one  fide  the  river  is  a  hill  covered  with 
wood ;  and  you  view  the  other  through  a 
tall  fcattered  hedge  in  a  moft  pleafing  man- 
ner; it  is  a  projediing  rock,  with  a  fine 
fcattering  of  fhrubby  wood  beautifully  vari- 
egated. Here  you  fhould  turn  and  view 
the  rocks  you  have  left;  the  fun  (hining  on 
them  gives  their  refle(ftion,  in  the  fmooth 
parts  of  the  river,  in  a  ftile  very  pi(5turefque. 
Still  advancing,  you  catch  in  front  among 
the  wood  a  ruin  on  the  banks  of  the  river, 
half  covered  with  ivy,  and  backed  nobly 
with  wood ;  the  river  rapid  and  romantic, 
under  a  new  wall  of  formidable  rocks. 
Juft  before  you  come  to  the  abbey,  you 
may  remark  an  old  oak,  fo  connected  with 

rock. 


[    5    ] 

rock,  that  one  may  almoft  call  it  half  wood 
and  half  flone. 

Oppoiite  the  abbey  the  rocks  give  a  fine 
curve,  and  under  them  the  river  and  terrafs 
wind  in  the  moft  beautiful  manner :  It  is 
here  quite  an  amphitheatre  of  w^ood  and 
rock  ;  wild,  romantic,  and  fublime. 

Seating  yourfelf  on  a  bench  upon  the 
little  hill  under  the  rock  with  an  elm  in 
front,  the  view  is  very  ftriking.  To  the 
right  the  wall  of  rocks  prefents  its  bold 
front,  the  river  loiing  itfelf  under  them, 
and  the  oppofite  ileep  of  wood,  in  the  moft 
beautiful  manner.  To  the  left  a  fine  wave 
of  woody  hill ;  the  river,  rapid  in  its  courfe, 
fills  your  ear  with  the  found  of  its  current. 

Coming  to  the  turn  of  the  walk,  the 
profpedl  back  upon  the  rocks  is  prodigi- 
oufly  fine :  They  are  {een  as  it  were  in 
perfpedive,  and  their  tops,  all  crowned 
with  oaks,  have  a  noble  effed:. 

Winding  up  to  the  alcove  on  the  hill  to 
the  right,  you  fee  a  prodigious  fine  range 
of  fteep  woods,  hanging  over  broken  rocks, 
in  a  ftile  peculiarly  noble  :  At  a  diftance  you 
catch  a  fear  of  rock  quite  embofomed  in  a 
thick  wood  :  The  river  winds  through  the 
valley  beneath,  and  breaking  into  feveral 

B  3  didina: 


[  6  ] 
diftindl  fheets  of  water,  throw  a  beauti- 
ful variety  over  this  romantic  fcene;  it  lofes 
itfelf  to  the  left  under  another  fweep  of 
fine  hanging  woods  :  You  look  down  upon 
the  ruined  abbey,  on  the  oppofite  banks  of 
the  river,  in  a  hollow,  beautifully  pi(Slu- 
refque.  Above  it,  rifes  in  front  a  fine  wav- 
ing hill  cut  into  inclofures  ;  and  over  all,  an 
extenfive  diftant  profpe<ft.  Upon  the  whole, 
the  view  is  truly  beautiful. 

From  hence,  croffing  a  few  inclofures  to 
come  again  into  the  ornamented  grounds, 
the  path  you  enter  winds  on  the  brink  of 
a  woody  precipice,  upon  which  you  look 
in  a  very  romantic  pleafing  manner.  It 
leads  down  to  the  river  (here  a  fmooth  and 
gentle  current)  through  a  wild  rugged  way, 
and  there  brings  you  to  another  fhore  of 
pendent,  craggy,  broken  rock,  fringed  with 
wood,  in  a  pidurefque  manner :  In  one 
place,  almoil  under  the  dairy,  it  bulges  forth 
in  a  vafi:  projeding  body,  almoft  threaten- 
ing to  thunder  into  the  river,  and  obftrud: 
every  drop  of  its  ftream.  A  noble  fcene. — ^ 
The  walk  takes  a  winding  courfe  through 
a  thick  wood,  to  the  terras  in  front  of  the 
houfe,  from  which  the  view  is  totally  dif- 
ferent from  any  of  the  preceding  j  it  looks 

down 


[    7    ] 

down  upon  a  deep  winding  valley,  quite 
filled  with  wood :  A  fine  bending  hollow — 
The  nolfc  of  the  river  at  bottom  raging 
over  the  rocks  is  heard,  but  no  where  ieen; 
nor  can  any  thing  be  more  romantic  than 
this  effcd: :  For  looking  down  into  the 
hollow,  without  perceiving  the  water,  the 
imagination  at  once  takes  fire,  and  pid:ures 
a  horrible  depth  of  precipice,  far  beyond 
the  truth  J  but  in  which  it  is  fomewhat 
aflifted,  by  the  thicknefs  of  the  wood  break- 
ing the  line  of  found. 

Upon  the  whole,  Cocken  has  received 
noble  gifts  from  nature,  and  the  afliftance 
fhe  has  had  from  art  has  been  the  work  of 
an  elegant  fancy,  condudted  by  as  corredl 
a  tafte. 

In  the  houfe  are  feveral  pictures,  which 
pleafe  the  lovers  of  that  noble  art. 

Trevtfana.  Lot  and  his  daughters.  The 
colouring  is  ftrong,  and  the  ex- 
prefiion  fpirlted  :  Nor  is  it  want- 
ing in  the  effe(5t  of  the  clear  ob- 
fcure. 

Rape  of  Preferpme.    The  co- 
louring not  amifs. 

Diafia  and  Kndymion,    Good. 
JB  4  Ads 


[     8    ] 

Acls  and  Galatea,  Expreffive 
attitudes. 

Fenus  attiring.  Happily  de- 
licate and  expreflive ;  the  round- 
nefs  of  the  hmbs  and  the  beauty 
of  the  naked  are  ftriking :  The 
preflure  of  her  hand  on  her  bo- 
fom  is  fine  ;  and  his  want  of  at- 
tention charadteriftic  oi  fuch  a 
fituation.  It  is  a  copy  from 
Guido. 

Bacchus  and  Ariadne,  The 
attitud:e  is  very  well  caught ;  the 
colouring,  and  the  naked  oi  Arit 
adnes  body,  are  pleafing. 

'Jupiter-,  and  'Juno in  the  Cejlus 
of  Venus.  Her  attitude  is  ele- 
gant, and  the  whole  beautiful. 

Hercules  and  Omphale.  The 
colours,  naked,  and  attitude  good. 

Viviano,  ArchlLccfture  in  perfpedlive,  two 
pieces.  Very  fine,  brilliant,  and 
fpirited. 

Trevifana.  Portrait  of  the  late  Mr.  Carr, 
nobly  iplrited. 


[     9     ] 

Unknown.  School-miflrefs  in  her  fchool. 
Fine  exprefTion ;  the  girls  and 
boy  are  very  well  done ;  the  girl 
reading  and  the  other  knitting 
very  natural.  The  miftrefs  the 
leafl:  fpirited  in  the  piece. 

Ditto.  An  old  man  feeding  his  fa- 
mily with  cheftnuts.  Very  fine, 
fpirited,  and  natural.  The  mi- 
nute expreffion  is  ftrong :  But 
the  diffufion  of  light  appears  to 
be  unnatural,  to  proceed  from  no 
vifible  fource. 

jyitio.       Two  fruit  pieces.     Very  fine. 

Ditto.  Two  pieces  of  dead  game* 
Natural. 

Ditto.       Tv/o  heads.     Fine. 

Ditto.  Landfcape  j  a  cavern.  Fine 
and  brilliant. 

Ditto.  A  philofopher  reproving  his 
copyer.  Very  fine  and  natural  j 
the  airs  of  the  heads  well  pre- 
ferved,  and  the  hands  excellently 
done.     A  copy. 

Ditto.       Three  fmall  landfcapes.  Good. 

Ditto.  A  large  landfcape ;  rocks  and 
water.     Very  fine.     The  cattle 

and 


[  1°  ] 

and  figures  excellent  i — minute- 
ly done. 

Ditto.  Ditto  of  rocks,  with  a  ftrag- 
gling  branch  with  the  light  be- 
hind it.     Fine  and  fpirited. 

Ditto,  Three  ditto  in  a  dark  ftile. 
The  light  is  well  done,  and  much 
Ipirit  in  the  piece. 

Ditto.  One  ditto,  their  companion. 
Exceedingly  fine.  The  perfpec- 
tive  and  keeping  flriking. 

Ditto,  Two  ditto,  fomething  in  the 
ftile  of  Zuccarelli,  Brilliant  and 
pleafing. 

Ditto,  A  ditto,  rocks,  with  a  trunk 
of  a  tree  in  water.  The  rocks 
fine  -y  and  the  water  excellent. 

Ditto,  Two  ditto  in  round.  The 
cattle  —  the  attitudes  of  the 
figures  —  the  architecfture  and 
the  trees,  all  have  merit. 

Ditto,  Large  landfcape :  It  is  in  a 
dark  ftile,  but  good. 

Sahator  Rofa.  A  water  fall.     Spirited  and 
alive. 

Another;  rocks  and  wood. 
Good  J  but  does  not  appear  to 
me  to  equal  the  firft. 

Pouffiti. 


[  "  ] 

Foujjin.    Large  landfcape.    In  a  fine   but 
gloomy  ftile. 

From  Cocken  to  Newcaflle  the  land  is  in 
general  good,  and  lets  very  high.  That 
town  is  too  famous  in  the  path  of  trade  to 
require  from  me  a  particular  defcription : 
Many  particulars,  relative  to  its  commerce, 
I  tried  to  get,  but  in  vain ;  fuch  as  I  pro- 
cured are  inferted  in  a  very  fev7  words ,  but 
I  can  anfwer  for  the  genuinenefs  only,  in 
receiving  my  intelligence  from  fenfible  in- 
habitants. 

This  town  is  fuppofed  to  contain  40,000 
fouls,  and  to  employ  of  its  own,  500  fail 
of  ihips,  400  of  which  are  colliers.  The 
corporation  have  an  eftate  of  13,500/.  a 
year,  and  allow  their  mayor  1200/.  a 
year  *. 

Thefe  particulars  will  by  no  means  fa- 
tlsfy  you — they  are  far  from  fatisfying  my- 
felf,  but  they  are  all  I  could  procure. — 
I  wanted  to  be  informed  of  the  tonnage  of 
their  iliipping,  the  number  of  fallors  em- 
ployed, the  nature  and  extent  of  their  fo- 
reign trade,  the  degree  of  increafe  or  de- 

*  Sir  IVaUer  Blacktt,  when  he  ferves  that  office,  takes 
nothing. 

creafe, 


I       «2      ] 

crcafe,  and  at  what  periods,  with  many 
other  circumftances.  —  I  could  infert,  in 
the  common  hackneyed  ftyle,  That  New- 
caftle  is  a  place  of  very  conjideralbe  trade, 
her  7}ier chants  pojfejjing  a  very  exterifive  cor- 
refpondencCi  exporting  thist  that,  and  the 
ether,  and  importing  fuch  andfuch  commo" 
dities,  &c.  &c.  Thefe  are  the  general  ac- 
counts we  meet  with  in  books  of  geogra- 
phy, copied  from  one  to  another,  till  a 
man  of  any  reading  is  difgufted  with  the 
impertinence.  I  may  be  trifling  and  ab-- 
furd,  but  I  will  never  give  you  fuch  pages 
cf  inanity  as  thefe. 

The  people  employed  in  the  coal-mines 
are  prodigioufly  numerous,  amounting  to 
many  thoufands ;  the  earnings  of  the  mea 
are  from  ix.  to  4^".  a  day,  and  their  firing. 
The  coal  waggon  roads,  from  the  pits  to 
the  water,  are  great  works,  carried  over 
all  forts  of  inequalities  of  ground,  fo  far  as 
the  diftance  of  9  or  lo  miles.  The  track 
of  the  wheels  are  marked  with  pieces  of 
timber  let  into  the  road,  for  the  wheels  of 
the  waggons  to  run  TDn,  by  which  means 
one  horfe  is  enabled  to  draw,  and  that  with 
eafe,  50  or  60  bufhels  of  coals.  There 
are  many  o<:her  branches  of  bufinefs  that 

have 


[    13    J 

have  much  carriage  in  a  regular  track,  that 
greatly  wants  this  improvement,  which 
tends  fo  confiderably  to  the  lowering  the 
expences  of  carriage. 

About  five  miles  from  Newcajile  are  the 
iron  works,  late  Crawley  s,  fuppofed  to  be 
the  greateft  maniifadory  of  the  kind  in 
Europe.  Several  hundred  hands  are  em- 
ployed in  it,  infomuch  that  20,000/.  a 
year  is  paid  in  wages.  They  earn  from  is, 
to  2s.  6d.  ^  day ;  and  fome  of  the  foremen 
fo  high  as  200/.  a  year.  The  quantity  of 
iron  they  work  up  is  very  great,  employ- 
ing three  (hips  to  the  Baltic,  that  each 
make  ten  voyages  yearly,  and  bring  70 
tons  at  a  time,  which  amounts  to  2100 
tons,  befides  500  tons  more  freighted 
in  others.  They  ufe  a  good  deal  of  Ame- 
rican iron,  which  is  as  good  as  any  SwediJJj, 
and  for  fome  purpofes  much  better.  They 
would  ufe  more  of  it,  if  larger  quantities 
were  to  be  had,  but  they  cannot  get  it. 
A  circumftance  the  perfon  did  not  fuffi- 
ciently  explain,  but  which,  in  the  mere 
outline,  is  worthy  of  remark. 

They  ufe  annually  7000  bolls  of  coals, 
at  16  bulhels  each. 

They 


[Hi 

They  manufacture  anchors  as  high  as 
70  cwt.  carriages  of  cannon,  hoes,  ipades, 
axes,  hooks,  chains,  &c.  &c. 

In  general  their  greateft  work  is  for  ex- 
portation, and  are  employed  very  conlider- 
ably  by  the  Eaji  India  Company  :  They 
have  of  late  had  a  prodigious  artillery  de- 
mand from  that  Company. 

During  the  war  their  bufinefs  was  ex- 
tremely great :  It  was  worfe  upon  the 
peace ;  but  for  anchors  and  mooring 
chains  the  demand  thefe  laft  7  or  8  years 
has  been  very  regular  and  fpirited.  Their 
bulinefs  in  general,  for  fome  time  paft,  has 
not  been  equal  to  what  it  was  in  the  war. 

As  to  the  machines  for  accelerating  feve- 
ral  operations  in  the  manufadure,  the  cop- 
per rollers  for  fqueezing  bars  into  hoops, 
and  the  fciflars  for  cutting  bars  of  iron — 
the  turning  cranes  for  moving  anchors  into 
and  out  of  the  fire — the  beating  hammer, 
lifted  by  the  cogs  of  a  wheel  -,  thefe  are 
machines  of  manifefl  utility,  fimple  in  their 
conftrud:ion,  and  all  moved  by  water. 
But  I  cannot  conceive  the  neceflity  of  their 
executing  fo  much  of  the  remaining  work 
by  manual  labour.  I  obferved  eight  ftout 
fellows   hammering   an   anchor  in    fpots, 

which 


[     '5    ] 

which  might  evidently  be  flruck  by  a  ham- 
mer, or  hammers,  moved  by  water  upon 
a  vafl  anvil,  the  anchor  to  be  moved  with 
the  utmoft  eafe  and  quicknefs,  to  vary  the 
feat  of  the  flrokes.  It  is  idle  to  objed:  the 
difficulty  of  raifing  fuch  a  machine ;  there 
are  no  impoffibilities  in  mechanics :  An 
anchor  of  20  tons  may,  undoubtedly,  be 
managed  with  as  much  eafe  as  a  pin.  In 
other  works  beiides  the  anchor-making,  I 
thought  I  obferved  a  wafte  of  ftrength. 

In  the  road  from  Newcajlle  to  the 
works,  upon  rifing  the  firfl  hill,  there  is  a 
moft  noble  view  into  an  extenfive  vale: 
cultivated  riling  inclofures,  furrounding  a 
prodigious  fine  water,  (the  river  'Ty?ie) 
which  has  the  appearance  of  a  lake,  feve- 
ral  miles  long,  and  of  a  noble  breadth.  In 
the  middle  a  very  fine  ifland  of  an  irregu- 
lar oblong  fhape,  fcattered  with  trees : 
The  whole  water  enlivened  with  numerous 
boats,  failing  to  and  from  Newcajlle  :  The 
river  lofes  itfelf  at  each  end,  under  wav- 
ing hills  in  a  beautiful  manner.  Upon 
the  whole  it  has  the  appearance  of  one 
of  the  fineft  lakes  in  the  world.  —  At 
Neivcajik, 

PRO- 


t     16     ] 
PROVISIONS. 


BeflRye  bread,  per  lb,     - 

-       1/ 

Worft  ditto,   1 0  /b.  for     - 

-      6 

Butter,  20  oz. 

-       9 

Cheefe, 

U 

Beef,         -         .         - 

3 

Mutton, 

2i 

Veal,         -       -        -        - 

2 

Milk,  per  pint, 

1 

Potatoes,  per  peck. 

-       3 

Coals,  per  chaldron,     - 

4J". 

Poor's  houfe-rent,  from  20 

to  40/. 

Their  firing,       -       - 

30J. 

Land  around  Neivcajl/e,  letts,  as  may  be 
fuppofed,  extravagantly,  from  40 j.  to  5/. 
an  acre. 

As  I  enter  the  extenfive  county  o^ North- 
irmberhmd  to-morrow,  you  muft  allow  me 
to  make  the  agriculture  of  it  the  fubjed 
of  my  next  letter. 

I  remain,   in  the  mean  time,  &c. 

NewcdJIIe. 


ET- 


[    17    ] 


LETTER     XIV. 

A  T  Gofwortht  in  the  road  to  Morpeth, 

the  foil  is  chiefly  loamy — part  fandy, 

and  but  little  clay  -,  the  average  rent  is  a- 

bout  20 X.  an  acre;  farms  rife  from  50/. a 

year  to  400  /.     Their  courfes  are, 

1.  Fallov7 

2.  Wheat 

3.  Oats. 


And, 


Another, 


Alfo, 


1.  Fallow 

2.  Maflin 

3.  Oats, 

1.  Fallow 

2.  Wheat 

3.  Beans. 


1.  Turneps 

2.  Barley 

3.  Oats. 

For  wheat  they  plough  five  times,  fow 
2  bufhels  about  Michaelmas,  and  reap,  up- 
on an  average,    10   or   12  thrave,    each 

Vol.  hi,  C  thrave 


[     ,8    ] 

thrave  2  ftooks,   or  6  pecks,  that  is   i6 
bufhels  and  an  half.  For  barley  they  plough 
on  ftubble  three  times,  after  turneps  twice, 
and  on  a  fallow  five  times ;  fow  2  bufhels 
and  [  in  Aprily  and  reap  1 5  thraves,   at  2 
bufliels,    or    30   bufhels.     For   oats  they 
give  but  one  ploughing,   fow  2  bolls  and 
a  canning,  or  4  bufhels  and  f ,  after  barley, 
and  gain  in  produdl  much  the  fame  quan- 
tity as  of  that  grain  *.     They  plough  but 
once  for  beans,   fow  them  broad-caft,  and 
under   furrow  in    February,    never  hoe; 
the  medium  crop  about  25  bufhels  —They 
are  all  fold  for  the  colliery  horfes.     For 
peafe,  but  one  earth,  fow  in  March,  and 
get  from  16  to  20  bufhels.     For  rye  they 
fallow    3   or  4   times  5    but   after   barley 
plough  but  once ,  fow  2  bufliels,  and  gain 
in  return  30.     For  turneps  they  ftir  four 
times  ;  hoeing  is  but  coming  in,  for  many 
do  not  practice  it  at  all.  The  medium  value 
per  acre  is,  for  the  hoed  ones,  4/.  4J.  the 
unhoed,   3/.    an   argument   fo  flrong  for 
hoeing,  that  one  would  imagine  it  fuffi- 
cient  to  convince   the  blindell  and  mofl 

*  I  have  for  once  given  the  jargon  of  country 
mcafures ;  a  vile  abufe,  that  calls  aloud  for  redrefs. — 
You  {hall  be  plagued  \vitb  thegi  no  more, 

preju- 


t     '9     1 

prejudiced  of  the  cultivating  tribe.— They 

ufe  them  for  both  flieep  and  beafts. 

They  fow  a  Httle  rape  on  new  land  : 
Paring  and  burning,  and  one  ploughing,  is 
the  preparation  —  never  feed  it :  The  ave- 
rage crop  of  feed  half  a  laft» 

No  clover  ufed. 

They  cultivate  a  few  tares  for  the  feed- 
ing horfes.  Likewife  a  little  buckwheat, 
but  it  is  not  reckoned  profitable. 

Potatoes  they  plant  after  two  or  three 
ploughings :  Slice  them  into  fetts.  Twelve 
bufliels  will  plant  an  acre,  at  one  foot  fquare. 
They  hand-hoe  them  twice,  and  hand- 
weed  them  occafionally.  The  crops  are 
ufually  worth  from  7 /,  to  10/,  at  (^d,  a 
buOiel.  Wheat  or  rye  fucceeds ;  of  which 
they  have  finer  crops  than  common. 

As  to  manuring,  that  of  paring  and 
burning  is  one  important  point  i  the  ex~ 
pence, 

s,  iL 
The  paring  -  -  9  6 
Burning       -       -        -.26 


12    o 


C  2  They 


[      20      ] 

They  never  fold  their  flieep,  nor  chop 
their  ftubbles ;  but  their  hay  they  flack  at 
home.  Dung  they  buy  at  Newcajile,  from 
I  /.  to  2  J-,  for  a  tvvo-horfe  cart  load. 

Good  grafs  will  let  for  30/.  an  acre. 
They  apply  it  both  to  dairying  and  fatting : 
Three  acres  will  keep  two  cows  through 
the  fummer,  and  one  acre  three  or  four 
fheep.  They  manure  it  carefully.  The 
breed  of  cattle  fhort  horned,  which  they 
prefer. 

The  produdl  of  a  cow  they  reckon  at  5/. 
a  good  one  will  give  five  gallons  of  milk 
per  day  :  —  They  keep  but  few  fwine,  and 
not  the  more  for  tlieir  cows.  The  winter 
food  of  the  latter  hay  and  ftraw,  of  the  firfl 
two  ton  ;  keep  them  in  the  houfe  :  Their 
calves  fuck  five  weeks  for  fatting,  and  fix 
for  rearing,  and  afterwards  are  fed  with  bean 
meal  and  milk.  They  reckon  fix  or  eight 
cows  the  proper  number  for  a  dairy-maid 


to  manage. 


Their  fwine  they  fat  to  24  ftone. 

Their  flocks  of  fheep  rife  from  40  to 
80.  The  profit  they  reckon  at  15^.  a 
head.  They  feed  them  in  winter  and 
fpring  on  grafs — fome  turneps — and  when 
pinched    for   feed    turn    theni    into    their 

wheat 


[      21      ] 

wheat   and    rye.     5  lb,    the    average    of 
fleeces. 

They  reckon  eight  horfes  necelTary  for 
the  cultivation  of  100  acres  of  arable  land, 
ufe  three  in  a  plough,  and  do  an  acre  a 
day.  When  at  work  in  winter  they  allow 
their  horfes  a  peck  of  oats  ^tr  day  j  and 
reckon  the  annual  expence  at  7  /.  They 
plough  up  their  flubbles  for  a  fallow  at 
Chrijlmas,  The  price  per  acre  of  plough- 
ing 5  s.  The  depth  five  inches.  They 
know  nothing  of  chopping  ftraw  for  chaff. 
The  hire  of  a  cart  and  three  horfes  a  day 
is  5/, 

In  the  hiring  and  flocking  of  farms, 
they  reckon  ;^oo/.  requifite  for  one  of 
100/.  a  year. 

Land  fells  at  28  or  30  years  purchafe : 
There  are  fome  eflates  fo  low  as  2  or 
300/.  a  year. 

Tythes  are  generally  compounded  5 
Wheat,   8  J.  6^. 
Barley,    4J-.  6^. 
Oats,       4  J". 
Beans,      6x. 
Poor  rates  2^.  in  the  pound.    Their  em- 
ployment fpinning  wool  and  flax.    But  few 
drink  te^. 

C  3  The 


[  "  ] 

The  farmers  carry  their  corn  3  miles. 
The  general  ceconomy  will  be  (tQn  from 
the  following  fketches. 
300  acres  in  all 
ICO  arable 
200  grafs 
^.300  rent 
14  horfes 
1 2  cows 
20  beafts 
1 2  young  cattle 
40  fheep 
I  man 
3  boys 
3  maids 
8  labourers 
3  ploughs 
6  carts 
No  waggons. 
Another, 

450  acres 
200  arable  in  all 
250  grafs 
^.420  rent 
27  horfes 
30  cows 
25  beafts 
30  young  cattle 

90  flieep 


[      23 

90  flieep 

2  men 

3  boys 

lo  labourers 

5  ploughs 

lo  carts. 

Another, 

1 8o  acres  in  all 

8o  arable 

100  grafs 

£.140  rent 

8  horfes 

7  cows 

7  beafts 

20  young  cattle 

30  flieep 

I  man 

I  boy 

2  maids 

I  labourer 

2  ploughs 

4  carts. 

Another, 

100  acres  in  all 

60  arable 

40  grafs 

£.  90  rent 

6  horfes 

C  4 

4  cows 


[    24    3 

4  cows 

8  young  cattle 
20  fheep 
I  man 
I  maid 
I  labourer 
I  plough 
3  carts. 

LABOUR. 

In harveft,  is,  6d,  and  ale. 
In  hay  time,  2  j.  and  ditto. 
In  winter,  i  /. 

Mowing  grafs,  2  s,  and  4  /.  6  </. 
Hoeing  turnips,  6  J.  and  4  j. 
Ditching,  &c.  i  j.  zd,  a  rood. 
Thraihing  wheat,  2|  ^.  a  bulhcl. 

.     .  Barley,  il  d, 

I  Oats,   il  d. 

Headman's  wages,  12/. 
Next  ditto,  8  /.  or  9  /. 
Boy  of  10  or  12  years,  3  /. 
Pairy  maids,  4/. 
Other  ditto,  3/.  10/. 
Women  per  day  in  harveft,  10  ^.  and  I  s. 
In  hay  time,  6  d. 
In  winter,  6  ^. 

I  M  P  L  E;- 


f  25  J 

IMPLEMENTS. 

A  cart,  6/.  6  j.  or  7  /. 

A  plough,  I  /.  I  J". 

A  harrow,  15^. 

A  roller  4  /.  or  5  /.  for  grafs,  but  none  for 

barley. 
A  fcythe,  3  j. 
A  Ipade,  3  j.  6d. 
Laying  a  fhare  and  coulter,  i  j. 
Shoeing,  is,  ^d. 

PROVISIONS. 

The  fame  as  at  Newcaftle. 

About  Morpeth  the  foil  is  a  loamy  clay  % 
letts  from  5  j.  to  20  j.  /^r  acre  j  average 
about  12  J.  Farms  rife  from  30/.  to  500/. 
a  year.     Their  courfes, 

1.  Fallow 

2.  Wheat 

3.  Oats 

4.  Oats. 
And 

1.  Fallow 

2.  Wheal 

3.  Beans 

4.  Oats. 

Alfo 


[      26      ] 

Alfo  .  ' 

1.  Turneps 

2.  Barley 

3.  Oats 

4.  Oats. 

For  wheat  they  plough  four  times,  fow 
2 1  bufhels  between  Michaelmas  and  Mar- 
tinmaSf  and  reap,  upon  an  average,  14. 
For  barley  they  give  three  ftirrings,  but 
five  on  a  fallow,  low  2  bufhels  about  the 
end  of  March,  or  beginning  of  April,  and 
gain  in  return  20  bufhels.  They  flir  but 
once  for  oats,  fow  5  bufhels  before  barley 
fowing,  and  gain  30  in  return.  One 
ploughing  is  alfo  the  number  for  beans ; 
of  which  they  fow  3  bufhels  broad  caft  — 
never  hoe  —  the  medium  crop  28:  Ufe 
them  chiefly  for  horfes.  For  peafe  they 
likewife  plough  but  once,  fow  2  bufhels, 
and  gain  about  14.  They  give  four  flir- 
rings  for  rye,  fow  2  bufhels,  and  gain, 
upon  a  medium,  20. 

For  turneps  they  plough  four  times^  all 
hoe  twice  or  thrice  -,  and  the  medium  va- 
lue per  acre  is  3  /.  ufe  them  for  cattle  and 
Iheep.  Clover  they  fow  with  both  barley 
and  wheat  j  mow  it  for  hay  and  get  from 
1 1  to  2  ton  per  acre,  and  fow  oats  after  it. 

Potatoes 


[       27       ] 

Potatoes  they  prepare  for  by  digging: 
the  planters  give  5/.  per  acre  rent  for  the 
land  they  fet  them  on :  It  is  generally  a 
ftubble,  dunged  at  the  rate  of  25  loads 
per  acre,  32  bulhels  each.  They  dibble 
them  in  at  i  foot  fquare;  23  bufhels  plant 
an  acre  j  hand-hoe  them  three  times,  at 
the  expence  of  2j.  6d.  a  time :  The  crop 
is  from  2  50  to  400  bufhels.  The  digging 
the  ground,  and  digging  up  the  crop,  cofts 
5  /.     The  price  commonly  i  i".   a  bulhel. 

The  account,  therefore,  ftands  thus,  per 
acre— 


E  X  P  E  N  C  E  S. 

Rent,       -         .        -        ^ 

5 

0 

0 

Labour,  manuring,  can-^ 

not  be  lefs  than  the 

day's  work  of  4  horfes. 

10 

0 

3  men,  and  2  carts,  or^ 

Setts,         -           ..          - 

I 

3 

0 

Pibling,         -          -         - 

0 

5 

0 

Pigging  and  taking  up, 

5 

0 

0 

Hand-hoeing  thrice. 

0 

7 

6 

12 

5 

6 

PRO- 


[     28     ] 

PRODUCE. 

350  builiels,  at  I/.        -         1710     o 
Expences,  -  -         12     5     6 

Profit,         -         -  -         546 


But  the  profit  of  fiich  thorough  tillage 
is,  perhaps,  as  confiderable  as  this  bal- 
lance.  They  ibw  barley  afterwards,  of 
which  they  get  very  great  crops. 

As  to  the  management  of  manure,  it  may 
partly  be  judged  from  their  flacking  their 
hay  both  in  the  field  and  farm  yard — and 
from  their  never  chopping  their  ftubbles. 

Paring  and  burning  v^^as  once  ufed,  but 
k  is  now^  done  with. 

They  lime  much,  lay  70  bufliels  per 
acre,  befides  a  dunging  at  the  fame  time ; 
it  coflis  7 J.  befides  the  leading;  they  rec- 
kon they  could  not  raife  corn  without  it. 

Very  good  grafs  land  will  lett  at  20s. 
an  acre :  They  apply  it  moftly  to  fatting. 
An  acre  and  a  half  they  reckon  fufficient 
for  carrying  a  beaft,  of  100  fione,  through 
the  fummer,  or  to  maintain  feven  or  eight 
ilieep.-— Their  breed  of  cattle  is  the  {hort 
horned,  which  they  reckon  much  the  heft. 

The 


[  29  i 

The  produdl  of  a  cow  they  lay  at  5/.  but 
on  land  of  20s.  an  acre,  they  fuppofe  it 
may  amount  to  9  or  i  o  /.  A  good  one  will 
give  9  gallons  of  milk  per  day.  Ten  will 
maintain  5  or  6  fwine.  Their  winter 
food  is  hay  and  ftraw.  The  calves  do  not 
fuck  at  all,  being  brought  up  by  hand, 
about  6  weeks,  for  either  killing  or  rear- 
ing. A  dairy-maid,  they  reckon,  can 
take  care  of  6  cows  ;  — ■  and  a  ton  and  a 
half  of  hay  is  the  quantity  they  allow  for 
wintering  one  cow.  The  joift,  through  the 
year,  3/.  ioj.  They  are  kept  in  winter 
in  the  houfe. 

Their  fwine  they  fat  up  to  20  and  30 
ilone. 

The  profit  on  fatting  an  ox  in  grafs,  of 
1 00  ftone,  they  reckon,  at  a  medium,  5  /. 

Their  flocks  of  fheep  rife  from  30  to 
100  J  the  profit  on  them  they  reckon  at 
IOJ-.  a  fheep.  In  winter  they  keep  them 
in  grafs  ;  and  in  very  bad  weather 
give  them  hay ;  in  j4pn7  they  turn  them 
into  their  young  clover:  The  average  of 
their  fleeces,  is-  3  3. 

In  the  tillage  of  their  farms,  they  rec- 
kon that  6  horfes  arc  necefl"ary  for  the 
culture  of  100  acres  of  arable  land.    They 

ufe 


[     3°    ] 

Ule  either  3  horfes  in  a  plough,  or  2  hor- 
ies  ?.nd  2  oxen ;  with  the  firft,  they  do  an 
acre  and  half  a  day,  and  with  the  fecond, 
not  above  half  an  acre ;  but  then  the  laft 
is  the  ftrongeft  of  all  their  work. — Their 
allowance  of  oats  to  their  teams,  is  two 
builiels  per  horfe,  per  week.  The  annual 
expence  of  keeping  a  horfe,  they  reckon 
8/.  They  feed  their  working  oxen  on 
draw  and  hay,  in  winter,  and  work  on 
ftraw  alone.  The  common  time  for  break- 
ing up  flubbles  for  a  fallow,  is  March, 
but  fome  do  it  in  November.  The  price  of 
ploughing,  is  5J-.  td. — The  depth  4  or  5 
inches.  The  hire  of  a  cart,  three  horfes 
and  driver,    3^.  td. 

In  the  hiring  and  ftocking  farms,  they 
reckon  450/.  necelTary  for  one  of  100/, 
a  year. 

Land  fells  at  32  years  purchafe.  Eftates 
rife  from  100  /.   upwards. 

Tythes  are  both  gathered  and  com- 
pounded ',  when  the  latter,  2x.  bd.  an  acre 
for  turneps,  and  7/.  for  wheat,  barley, 
and  oats,  are  common  prices. 

Poor  rates,  6  d.  in  the  pound.  The 
employment  of  the  poor,  begging  and 
ftroUing  :    All  drink  tea. 

The 


t    3'     ] 

The  farmers  carry  their  corn  fix  miles. 
The  general  ceconomy  will  be  beft  feen, 
from  the  following  fketches  : 

130  acres  in  all 
80  arable 
50  grafs 
jT.  60  rent 

7  horfes 

4  oxen 

4  cows 
20  fheep 
1 2  young  cattle 

3  men 

I  boy 

1  maid 

2  plougl>s 
2  carts. 

Another, 

300  acres  in  all 
160  arable 
140  grafs 
£,  1 60  rent 

12  horles 

20  cows 

10  fatting  beads 

30  young  cattle 

50  fheep 

2  bovs 


[    32    ] 

2  boys 
2  maids 

2  labourers 

4  ploughs 
6  carts. 

Another, 

200  acres  in  all 

100  arable 

£.90  rent 
8  horfes 

10  cows 

5  fatting  beafts 
30  fheep 
1 0  young  cattle 

I  man 

I  boy 
I  maid 

I  labourer 

2  ploughs 

4  carts. 

LABOUR. 

Inharveft,  is.  and  board. 

In  hay  time,  i  /.  6  ^.  and  beer. 

In  winter,  10^. 

Mowiog  grafs,  is.  6d. 
Hoeing  turneps,  2s,  6d. 
Ditching,  is,  2d.  a  rood. 

AU 


[    33    ] 

All  thrafhing  done  for  the  2ift  part. 

Head  man's  wages,  1 1  /. 

Next  ditto,  7/. 

A  boy  of  12  years,  3/. 

A  dairy  maid,  3  /.  10  s. 

Other  ditto,  3/. 

Women  per  day  In  harveft,  9  d.  and  beer. 

In  hay  time,  6d, 

IMPLEMENTS. 

No  waggons. 

A  cart,  7  /. 

A  plough,  2o.f. 

A  harrow,  15/. 

A  roller,  i  /.  5  j. 

A  fey  the,  2  s.  6d, 

A  fpade,  33-.  td. 

Laying  a  fliare  and  coulter,  4^.  and  find 

iron,  IJ-.  without. 
Shoeing,  is.  ^d. 

PROVISIONS. 

Bread — rye,  or  wheat  and  peafe,  or  bar- 
ley and  peafe. 
Cheefe,  id. 
Butter,  8  ^.  16  oz. 
Beef,  3  d. 
Mutton,  3  d. 
Vol.  III.  D  Veal, 


[    34    ] 

Veal,  3  d. 

Pork,  4  d. 

Milk,  3  pints  of  Ikim  for  |i£ 

Potatoes,  3  d^.  a  peck. 

Candles,  7  ^. 

Soap,  7 «/. 

Labourer's  houferent,  10/. 

Their  firing,  \qs, 

BUILDING. 

Oak  timber,  2  x. 
Afli,  I  J.  4^. 

A  mafon  per  day,  u-  and  board* 
A  carpenter,  u.  and  ditto. 
Farm  houfes  of  brick  and  ftone. 

From  Morpeth  to  Alnwick,  land  lets  at 
an  average  at  1 2  i.  and  farms  are  in  general 
from  40  /.  to  200  /.  a  year.  Wheat  crops- 
20  bulhels,  barley  30,  and  oats  36.  The 
foil  about  Alnwick  is  in  general  either  a 
light  loam,  or  a  gravel,  and  letts  about 
35  J-.  an  acre.  Farms  from  100/.  to  800  L 
a  year.     The  courfes  moil  ia  ufe  ai'e^ 

1.  Turneps- 

2.  Barley 
,    3..  Oats 

4.  Oats* 

Ami, 


[    35    ] 

And,' 

1.  Fallow 

2.  Wheat 

3.  Beans  or  peafe 

4.  Oats 

5.  Oats. 

which  are  both  bad,  but  the  laft  exe- 
crable. They  plough  for  wheat  three  or 
four  times,  fow  2  bufhels  in  OSiober,  and 
reap,  on  an  average,  20  bufhels.  For  bar- 
ley they  ftir  twice  or  thrice,  fow  2  bu- 
fhels  in  April,  and  gain,  at  a  medium,  40 
bufhels.  They  plough  but  once  for  oats, 
fow  6  bufhels,  after  barley,  and  reckon  the 
middling  crop  at  40.  For  beans  but  once, 
on  pared  and  burnt  land  fow  5  bufhels, 
and  get  from  40  to  50.  They  fow  but 
few  peafe ;  the  method  is,  one  ploughing, 
fow  3  bufhels,  and  the  crop  20.  For  rye 
they  plough  three  or  four  times,  fow  2 
bufhels ;  the  crop  the  fame  as  of  peafe. 
They  plough  as  often  for  turneps,  hoe 
twice,  and  reckon  the  value  per  acre  from 
2  /.  I  o  J.  to  5  /.  I  o  J.  They  feed  them  off 
with  beafts  and  fheep.  They  ufe  no  clover, 
but  fow  a  few  tares  to  make  into  hay  for 
their  horfes.  They  cultivate  potatoes  both 
by  digging,  and  ploughing,  and  dunging; 
D  2  if 


[     36     ] 

if  the  latter,  it  is  three  times :  They  flicc 
and  drop  them  into  the  furrow,  fo  as  to 
Hand  in  rows  12  inches  afunder;  35  pecks 
will  plant  an  acre ;  the  crop  is  generally 
worth  I  o  /.  or  I  2  /.  at  I  J.  6  ^.  a  bufhel. 

For  raifing  manure,  they  have  no  idea  of 
chopping  the  flubbles,  but  ftack  their  hay 
at  home,  confequently  make  much  more 
than  in  places  where  it  is  flacked  in  the 
fields.  They  lime  a  great  deal,  lay  8  or 
12  bolls  on  an  acre,  at  2  bufhels  each. 

Good  grafs  lefts  at  2/.  an  acre;  they 
ufe  it  chiefly  for  cows ;  an  acre  will  fum- 
mer  one,  or  three  flieep.  Their  breed  of 
cattle  is  the  fhort  horned,  and  will  fat  up 
to  60  or  80  ftone. 

Their  fwine  fat  from  12  to  20  ilone. 

The  produ(ft  of  a  cow  they  reckon  at  7/. 
in  good  grafs  j  do  not  keep  above  a  fow  to 
ten.  The  winter  food,  hay,  if  acre  in 
quantity,  and  ftraw ;  kept  in  houfe.  Calves 
do  not  fuck  above  three  days. 

In  the  tillage  of  their  lands,  they  reckon 
4  horfes  will  do  for  100  acres  of  arable 
land ;  ufe  2  in  a  plough,  and  do  an  acre 
and  half  a  day  ;  allow  them  half  a  peck  of 
oats  a  day,  and  reckon  the  annual  expence 
of  keepmg,  cfc.    at  8/.  per  head.     The 

time 


t    37    ] 

time  of  breaking  up  their  flubbles  for  a 
fallow,  is  after  barley  fowing.  The  price 
of  ploughing,  3  J.  per  acre,  and  the  depth 
4  inches. — The  hire  of  a  cart,  3  horfes 
and  driver,  5^.  a  day. 

They  reckon  300  /.  neceflary  for  the 
hiring  and  flocking  a  farm  of  100/.  a 
year. 

Land  fells  at  30  years  purchafe. 

Tythes  are  both  gathered  and  com- 
pounded. 

Poor  rates  6d.  in  the  pound  ;  their  em- 
ployment /pinning, 

LABOUR, 

In  harveft,   i  j-.  3  ^.  and  i  j-.  6  d,  a  day. 

In  hay-time,  ditto. 

In  winter,   10 d. 

Mowing  grafs,   is.  6d, 

Hoeing  turneps,   ^s.  twice. 

For  threfhing,  they  have  the  19th  of  ill 

grain. 
Head  man's  wages,  9  /. 
Next  ditto,  6  /, 
Boy  of  1 2  years,   3  /, 
Maids,  3  /.  to  5  /. 

Women  per  day,  in  harveil,   is,  2d. 
In  hay-time,  6  d. 

D  3  I  MPLE- 


[     38  ] 

IMPLEMENTS. 

No  waggons. 

A  cart,         -          ^  Jl  7   ^^     ^ 

A  plough,       -       -  -       I     I     o 

A  harrow,         -  -        i      i      o 

A  roller,       -         -  -500 

A  fcythe,         -  -         030 

A  fpade,         -  -030 

Laying  a  {hare,      -  -006 

coulter     -  -006 


PROVISIONS. 

Bread — Barley  and  peafe 
Cheefe,  peril.         -  -         2|i 

Butter,  16  oz,         -  -         6 

Beef,        -         -  -        -       2i 

Mutton,        -  -  -         zl 

Veal,         -         .        -         -         2 
Pork,  -  -  -         3 

New  milk,  per  pint,       -       -        i 
Candles,       -  -  "7 

Soap,  -  -  -         ^ 

Labourer's  houfe-rent,      -     20s, 

firing,      -       -     20  J. 

I      ■■  tools,        -         '      gs, 

Down 


[     39    ] 

Down  by  the  fea  are  many  rich,  grazing 
farms  for  oxen  and  (heep,  up  to  fo  high  as 
looo/.  a  year. 

The  caftle  of  Alnwick,  the  feat  of  his 
Grace  the  Duke  of  Northumberland,  is 
mofl  of  k  new  built  by  the  prefent  Duke, 
and  not  yet  finiflied :  The  apartments  are 
all  fitted  up  in  the  Gothic  tafte,  and  orna- 
mented in  a  very  Hght  and  elegant  ftile. 
The  principal  ones  are,  i.  A  breakfall- 
room,  33  by  21.  2.  Dining-room,  ^^ 
hy  2.2',  it  has  two  bow-windows,  but  ir- 
regular, the  Gothic  work  very  elegant : 
Over  the  chimney,  the  Duchefs,  by  Rey- 
noldi.  3.  A  drawing-room.  4.  A  li- 
brary, 65  by  22,  and  at  the  end,  a  cha- 
peL  5.  A  faloon,  40  by  20,  and  a  bow. 
The  architecture  of  the  new  buildings  is 
quite  in  the  caftle  ftile,  and  very  light  and 
pleailng. 

From  Alnwick  to  Belford  land  letts  at 
lis.  an  acre;  and  farms  rife  from  40/.  to 
700  /.  a  year,  but  generally  between  100  /. 
to  200  /.  The  wheat  crops,  at  an  average, 
20  bufhels  per  acre,  barley  36,  and  oats 
the  fame. 

About  Belford  there  are  many  variations 

from  the  preceding  management,   which 

D  4  highly 


[  40  ] 
highly  deferve  attention.  The  foil  is  in 
general  a  loam,  inclinable  to  a  clay ;  good 
v/heat  land  letts,  in  large  farms,  at  lis. 
an  acre,  but  in  fmall  ones,  near  the  town, 
at  20  T.  Farms  rife  from  100/.  a  year,  to 
500/.  many  of  300/.  350/.  and  400/, 
The  courfes, 

1.  Fallow 

2.  Wheat 

3.  Peafe. 
Alfo, 

1.  Turneps 

2.  Barley 

3.  Oats 

4.  Barley, 

For  wheat  they  plough  four  or  five  tlrpeSj, 
fow  3  bufliels  in  Novejnber,  and  gain  upon 
an  average  about  21.  For  barley  they 
plough  three  times,  but  only  twice  after 
turneps,  fow  4  bufhels,  about  the  20th  of 
Miiyj  and  reckon  the  medium  produce  at  5 
quarters.  They  ftir  but  once  for  oats,  fow  6 
buihels,  before  barley  feed  time,  and  gain  in 
return  48.  For  beans  they  plough  twice, 
ibw  6  bufhels,  broad  caft,  the  beginning  of 
March,  never  hoe,  but  get  60  bufhels  in 
return  ;  fell  them  for  exportation.  They 
give    but    one    ftirring   for   peafe,    fow    4 

bufhels 


[     4'     ] 

bufliels  the  beginning  oi  March,  and  gain 
from  none  at  all  to  50  bufliels. 

For  turneps  they  plough  four  times,  hoc 
twice,  fetting  them  out  ten  inches  or  a  foot 
afunder,  and  value  them,  at  a  medium,  at 
45  J-.  ufe  them  for  fatting  (heep  and  beads, 
and  rearing  calves  and  young  flieep.  Tares 
they  fow  after  wheat,  on  two  ploughing?, 
generally  for  hay,  of  which  they  get  about 
2  tons  per  acre. 

Potatoes  they  plough  for  thrice  :  Slice 
them  for  fetts,  drop  them  in  the  furrows, 
fo  as  to  lay  1 4  inches  fquare  j  hand-hoe 
them  twice  with  a  hoe  7  inches  wide  ; 
6  bufliels  plant  an  acre :  Some  years 
they  do  not  get  above  24  bufliels,  but  in 
others  60.     They  fow  barley  after  them. 

In  the  management  of  the  manure  in  the 
farm-yard  they  have  merit,  for  they  fl:ack 
all  their  hay  at  home ;  and  keep  their  cat- 
tle in  houfes,  littered  down  clean.  But 
they  know  nothing  of  chopping  the  fl:ub- 
bles  for  littering  a  farm-yard.  Nor  do  they 
fold  their  flieep,  although  their  flocks  rife 
to  1000.  — Paring  and  burning  is  known, 
but  is  going  out. 

Good  grafs  land  will  let  at  20/.  an  acre. 
They  apply  it  to  all  ufes :    An  acre    will 

keep 


[      42      ] 

keep  a  cow  through  the  fummer,  or  five 
flieep ;  but  they  never  manure  it. 

Their  breed  of  cattle  is  the  fhort  horned, 
but  apprehend  the  long  to  be  beft,  and  are 
accordingly  getting  into  them.  They  fat 
their  oxen  up  to  150  ftone  weight,  and 
reckon  4/.  4^.  the  profit  on  one  of  80 
flone.     Their  fwine  to  25. 

Four  pounds  they  reckon  the  produce  of 
a  cow,  and  a  good  one  to  give  fix  gallons 
of  milk  a  day :  A  dairy  of  eight,  will  ena- 
ble the  farmer  to  keep  nine  or  ten  fwine. 
They  give  them  hay  in  winter  while  milk- 
ed, and  ftraw  when  dry ;  keep  them  in 
the  houfe,  and  allow  each  a  ton  andshalf 
of  hay.  The  calves  do  not  fuck  at  all, 
but  are  brought  up  by  hand ;  four  months 
for  rearing,  and  two  for  killing.  One 
maid  will,  with  help,  take  care  of  ten  cows. 
Their  flocks  of  fheep  rife  from  100  to 
600 }  and  the  profit  they  reckon  on  buying 
to  fat  as  follows : 

Lamb,  -  -  -  -  o  8/.  o 
Wool,  ----.02  o 
Improvement  of  ewe,         040 

o    14      o 

On 


[    43    ] 

On  ftock  Iheep  they  calculate  it. 

Lamb,      -      -      -      -       o       6s.    o 
Wool,      -     -     -      -       o       I       8 


8 


In  very  hard  weather  they  give  them  fomc 
hay,  but  their  general  winter  keeping  is  on 
the  fheep  walks.  The  fleeces  are  from 
3  /^.  to  5  //^.  the  firft  at  ^^.  I,  and  the  fe- 
cond  at  g  d.  \. 

In  the  tillage  of  their  lands,  they  reckon 
8  oxen  and  6  horfes  neceflary  for  loo  acres 
of  arable  land  j  they  ufe  either  2  oxen  and 
2  horfes  in  a  plough,  or  two  horfes  alone ; 
with  the  firft  they  do  half  an  acre  a  day, 
and  with  the  laft  an  acre  and  half;  but 
then  the  firft  is  ufcd  in  the  ftrong  work, 
and  goes  much  the  deeper.  They  allow 
their  horfes  the  third  of  a  bufhel  of  oats 
each  in  winter  per  week,  but  none  in  fum- 
mer ;  and  reckon  the  annual  expence  per 
horfe  to  be  5/.  js.  They  give  them  no  hay, 
only  pea  ftraw.  Their  draught  oxen  they 
feed  in  winter  on  ftraw  and  coarfe  hay,  but 
work  them  on  the  firft  alone.  They 
reckon  oxen  much  the  beft  on  ftrong  lands, 
ploughing  much  fteadier  and  deeper.  They 
break  up  their  ftubbles  for  a  fallow  in  au^ 

tumn. 


[    44    ] 

tumn.  The  price  of  ploughing  is  6  s.  per 
acre,  and  the  depth  5  to  7  inches.  They 
know  nothing  of  chopping  ftraw  for  chaff. 

The  hire  of  a  cart,  3  horfes,  and  a  driver 
per  day,  is  5  j. 

They  reckon,  that  a  man  fhould  have 
1 200/.  for  the  flocking  a  farm  of  300  /.  a 
year. 

Land  fells  in  general  at  30  years  pur- 
chafe. 

Tythes  are  both  gathered  and  com- 
pounded :  If  the  latter. 

Wheat  pays     -  -       6  j. 

Barley,         "  *         5 

Oats,       -^  -  36^. 

Beans,         -  "3 

Peafe,  -  "3 

Poor  rates,  jld.  in  the  pound.  Their 
employment,  beiides  idlenefs,  is  a  little 
ipinning.    Very  few  drink  tea. 

There  are  fome  few  eftates  fb  low  as 
100  /.  a  jfcar,  and  to  300  /. 

The  farmers  carry  their  corn  4  miles. 

The  general  oeconomy  will  be  {t^^  from 
the  following  particulars  of  farms : 
400  acres  in  all 
350  arable 
50  grafs 

L  32® 


t    45    3 

^.320  rent 
12  horfes 
16  oxen 
8  cows 
20  young  cattle 
300  fheep 
2  men 
4  boys 
2  maids 
6  labourers 
4  ploughs 
6  carts. 
Another, 

700  acres  in  all 
400  arable 
300  grafs 
jT.  300  rent 
16  horfes 
20  oxen 
10  cows 
12  fatting  beafts 
30  young  cattle 
500  (heep 
3  men 

2  boys 

3  maids 
10  labourers 

6  ploughs 
(S  carts. 


Another, 


[    46     ] 

Another, 

200  acres,  all  arable 
jT.  loo  rent 
6  horfes 

2  oxen 
1 6  cows 

i6  young  cattle 
6o  fheep 
I  man 

1  boy 

3  maids 

2  labourers 
2  ploughs 

2  carts. 
Another, 

1 1  oo  acres  in  all 
700  arable 
400  grafs 
^,700  rent 

22  horfes 

30  oxen 

35  cows 

60  young  cattle 

20  fatting  beafts 
600  Iheep 

3  men 

4  boys 

5  maids 


i6  labourers 


[    47    ] 

i6  labourers 
10  ploughs 
10  carts. 
Another, 

360  acres  in  all 
200  arable 
160  grafs 
^.250  rent 
8  horfes 
4  oxen 
10  cows 
3  fatting  beads 
1 6  young  cattle 
50  fheep 

1  man 

2  boys 

2  maids 

3  labourers 
3  ploughs 
3  carts. 

LABOUR. 

In  harveft,  i  j. 

In  hay  time,  i  s. 

In  winter,  10  tl. 

Mowing  grafs,  2x.  6d, 

Hoeing  turneps,  from  2  s.  6d.  to  4/, 

Thrafhing,  the  20th  of  all  grain. 

Head 


I     4M 

Head  man's  wages  9  L 

Next  ditto,  J  l-  7  s. 

Boy  of  15  years,  5  /. 

Maids  3  /.  3  -f . 

Women  per  day  in  harvcft,  i  s. 

In  hay  time  6  d.  ufed  to  be  but  ^d. 

In  winter,  4^. 

IMPLEMENTS. 

No  waggons. 

A  cart,  7  /.  I  o  i". 

A  wain,   7  /.  1  o  J-. 

A  plough,    I  /.  1 5  J-. 

A  harrow,    i  /.  5  j. 

A  roller,   4/.  of  wood. 

A  fcythe,  5  x. 

A  fpade,   2.  s.  S  d. 

The  black-fmith  fhoes  all  the  horfes, 
repairs  the  plough  irons,  and  all  the 
cart  ditto,  for  i  /.  is, per  horfe,  pet 
annutni. 

Shoeing,  2  s. 

PROVISIONS. 

Bread  —  barley  and  peafe. 
Cheefe,  per  lb,       -      -       3  ^. 
Butter,  18  cz.     -      -  6 

Beef, 


[     49     ] 

Beef,        -----  3^.  I 

Mutton,       -     -      -     -  2 1 

Veal,        -      -       -       -  2 

Milk,  new,   a  pint,        -  i 

,  fkim,  3  pints,       -  I    ' 

Potatoes,        -        -      -  2J.  abufhel. 

Candles,         _       _       _  ^;/.  | 

Soap,       -----  6  ^. 

Labourer's  houfe  rent,  2gs.  ' 

' firing,     -     -  2  4  J. 

Their  tools  the  farmer  finds. 

BUILDING. 

Bricks,       per  looo,  los. 

Tiles,         -       -       -        40 

Oak  timber,       -       -         2    per  foot. 

Afli,         -        .         -         I 

Elm,       -         -         -  I 

A  mafon  per  day,       -         1     6d. 

A  carpenter,       -       -         i      6 

A  thatcher,     ---14 

Stone    walling,    dry,    that    is,    without 

mortar,  4^.  a  fquare  yard  cutting  and 

laying,  and  10  d.  leading. 
In    mortar,   5  f   feet  high  and   a  yard 

fquare,  cutting  and  laying  7  ^.  lime, 

fand,  and  leading  2  j-. 
Farm  houfes  of  ftone,  and  flate  or  pantile. 
Vol.  III.  E  In 


[so    ] 

In  the  parifli  of  Belford  arc 
10,600  acres  in  all 
3,300  of  ditto  moors 
400  wood 
200  bogs 
20  farms,  and  600  acres  in  little 

parcels 
180  labourers 

20  men  fervants 
200  horfes  (by  20  farmers) 
150  oxen 
4000  (heep 

40  fatting  beads 
6d.  in  the  pound  rates 
X-  3'300  rent. 

The  town  of  Belford,  which  is  a  pretty, 
well  fituated  place,  belongs  entirely  td 
Abraham  Dkkfon,  Efq;  That  Gentleman's 
father  procured  a  market  and  two  fairs  to 
be  eftablifhed  at  it ;  but  the  fpirited  con- 
du(fk  of  the  prefent  owner  is  what  has 
brought  it  to  the  condition,  fo  flourifli- 
ing  to  what  it  formerly  was ;  thirteen  years 
ago  it  did  not  contain  above  100  fouls,  but 
they  now  amount  to  above  fix  times  that 
number  :  And  this  increafe  has  been  owing 
to  the  excellent  means  of  introducing  an 

induflry 


t    5'    ] 

induftry  unknown  to  former  times.  Mr. 
Dick/on  has  eftablifhed  a  woollen  manu- 
facture, which  already  employs  16  looms, 
and  the  fpinning  bufinefs  goes  on  fufhci- 
cntly  to  keep  them  at  work  -,  A  noble  ac- 
quifition  in  a  place  where  a  fpinning-wheel 
was  not  to  be  feen  a  few  years  ago.  Ano- 
ther eftablifliment  of  very  great  importance, 
was  that  of  a  tannery.  The  neareft  tanners 
were  thofe  at  Berwick  and  Alnwick :  This 
was  an  inconvenience  and  a  difadvantagc  to 
the  neighbourhood ;  therefore  Mr.  Dick^ 
Jon,  at  the  expence  of  700  /.  fixed  a  tan* 
nery,  which  now  turns  out  to  good  account, 
and  is  a  peculiar  benefit  to  the  neighbour- 
hood. 

The  fituatlon  of  Be/ford,  half  way  be- 
tween Alnwick  and  Berwick,  at  the  dif- 
tance  of  30  miles,  was  very  advantageous 
for  fixing  a  good  inn,  with  poft-chaifes  and 
accommodations  for  travellers.  This,  like- 
wife,  was  executed,  and  is  now  found  of 
peculiar  ufe  to  all  travellers,  and  of  benefit 
to  the  town. 

But  as  a  town  without  good  roads  to 
and  from  it  is  of  courfe  but  in  a  paltry  con- 
dition, Mr.  Dick/on  applied  himfelf  with 
great  fpirit  to  rendering  the  road  to  Bel- 
E  2  ford. 


[     :S2      ] 

ford,  north  and  fouth,  as  good  as  polTible  j 
this  he  efFedted  as  far  as  his  influence  ex- 
tended, and  would  not  have  left  a  mile  of 
badlroad  in  the  whole  country,  had  others 
been  as  folicitous  as  himfelf  about  fo  im- 
portant an  objed:. 

Coals  had  formerly  been  raifed  around 
Belford,  but  the  pits  exhaufted,  and  the 
undertaking  difcontinued  for  many  years. 
The  common  report  which  this  adive 
Gentleman  heard  on  all  fides  was,  that  no 
more  coal  was  advan-tageoufly  to  be  had ; 
but  common  report  was  not  fufficient  for 
him ;  he  tried  in  feveral  places,  and  was 
fortunate  enough  to  find  a  very  beneficial 
feam,  which  has  been  fince  worked  to  no- 
ble advantage,  both  to  the  town  and  the 
proprietor. 

Difcovering  of  coal,  led  to  the  burning 
of  lime  for  the  purpofes  of  agriculture,  as 
a  manure,  in  a  much  larger  way  than  had 
been  ufual ;  and  for  this  work  three  new 
lime-kilns  were  eredted,  in  a  mofi:  fubftan- 
tial  manner,  and  at  a  large  expence. 

This  fpirited  Gentleman  meditates  yet 
greater  works :  He  propofes  to  eftablilh  fuch 
manufadures,  as  may  employ  all  the  poor  of 
the  country.     He  defigns  to  build  a  coal 

road 


[    53    ] 

road  from  his  pits  to  the  town,  and  he 
conceives  fome  hopes  of  making  Belford  a 
port,  though  at  two  or  three  miles  diftance 
from  the  fea  5  tliis  will  be  of  glorious  ad- 
vantage to  the  town,  and  open  markets  for 
his  coals  at  prefent  unthought  of.  In  a 
word,  this  ad:ive  genius  is  daring  and  com- 
prehenfive  in  his  ideas,  penetrating  and 
fpirited  in  the  execution. 

At  the  fame  time  that  he  has  cfFedled 
thefe  noble  works,  he  has  not  been  idle  in 
other  refpeds.  He  has  built  a  very  hand- 
fome  manfion-houfe  for  his  own  refidence, 
raifed  numerous  plantations,  and  erecfted 
feven  new  farm-houfes,  with  all  the  ne- 
ceffary  offices,  the  whole  fubftantially  of 
brick  and  tile.    ^       ■ 

In  the  walk  of  hufbandry  he  has  tried 
fome  experiments,  which  deferve  atten- 
tion :  Much  of  his  land  is  fo  wet  as 
to  require  draining ;  his  method  of  doing 
which  is  as  follows  ;  While  the  field  is  in 
tillage,  he  marks  out  the  low  places,  where 
the  water  lodges,  with  fticks,  and  then, 
with  a  plough,  throws  the  land  from  the 
low  fpace  \  by  beginning  at  a  certain 
diftance,  5  or  6  yards  for  inftance  from  the 
bottom  of  it,  and  continually  turning  the 
E  3  furrows 


[    54    ] 

furrows  from  it,  until  the  plough  finiflict 
in  the  middle,  and  confequently  leaves  an 
open  furrow  there;  by  which  means  a 
drain  is  made  for  the  water,  which  carries 
it  off  with  a  little  opening  by  fpades:— 
And  afterwards  laying  the  field  down  to 
grafs,  the  land  has  a  fall  that  keeps  it  dry.  — 
This  method  he  follows,  let  the  inequality 
of  the  furface  be  what  it  may ;  for  if  in 
any  place  the  land  lies  in  a  round,  an  ob- 
long, or  a  ferpentine  form,  the  plough 
moves  according  to  the  wave  of  the  land, 
and  always  leaves  a  furrow  in  the  loweft 
part. 

This  method  of  draining  muft  certainly 
be  mod  effectual  in  land  fo  retentive  of 
water  as  to  hold  it  on  the  fide  even  of 
an  open  drain;  and  when,  confequently, 
the  furface  mufl:  have  a  fall  to  carry  it  off. 

In  the  laying  down  to  grafs,  Mr.  Dick" 
fort  is  likewife  very  attentive  to  have  it 
done  in  a  neat  and  mafterly  manner.  Of 
hay  feeds  he  fows  6  bufhels  per  acre,  and 
%lb.  oi Dutch  clover,  and  alfo  about  a  tenth 
of  the  whole  of  parfley,  for  the  fake  of  his 
iheep.  In  1759,  four  acres  were  ploughed 
and  fown,  half  with  buck  wheat  and  half 
with  peafe,  both  were  ploughed  in  when  in 

bloffomji 


[  JJ  ] 

bloflbm,  and  winter  fallowed  after,  and  in 
the  fpring  fown  with  grafles  alone;  five  acres 
adjoining  were   fown  alfo  among  barley, 
and  another  five,  without  either   corn  or 
manure:    The  refult  of  this  experiment, 
which  was  very  well  imagined,  was  this, 
that,   from  the  firft  year  to  the  prefent 
time,  no  kind  of  difference  has  been  per- 
ceived.    That,  however,  which  was  fown 
alone,    would,    without    attention,    have 
proved   the   worft;    for   the   chick-weed 
came  fo  ftrongly,  that  it  threatened  to  de- 
ftroy  all  the  graffes  j  but  a  dairy  of  cows 
being  turned  in,  they  eat  it  up,  by  which 
means   the   graffes   rofe  freely.     As  that 
part  fown  alone,  in  this  experiment,  was 
no  better  than  the  other,  it  is  certainly 
fo  far  conclufive  againft  fowing  alone,  as  a 
crop  of  corn  is  thereby  loft,  without  gain- 
ing any  thing  in  return. 

Cabbages  this  Gentleman  has  alfo  tried, 
and  with  great  fuccefs.  In  1766  he  had 
an  acre  and  half  on  a  cold,  wet,  clay  foil : 
It  was  well  dunged,  and  ploughed  twice : 
Turncps  the  preceding  crop.  The  cab- 
bage feed  was  fown  the  beginning  of  An- 
guji  the  year  before,  and  the  plants  fet 
out  of  the  bed  diredtly  into  the  field,  which 
E  4  opera- 


[56    ] 

operation  was  performed  from  the  middle 
of  March  "to  the  beginning  of  April.  The 
rows  were  three  feet  afunder,  and  two  feet 
from  plant  to  plant,  horfe-hoed  and  hand- 
hoed  as  the  weeds  arofe.  This  crop  turned 
out  but  fmall  in  fize,  but  was  of  excellent 
ufe  for  feeding  the  cows  -,  they  were  giveri 
with  fome  hay  t(5  the  milch  ones,  the  leaves 
Gripped  off.  The  butter  and  milk  both 
exceedingly  good,  and  finely  flavoured. 

In  1767,  the  fame  field  was  again  plants 
ed  with  them ;  the  management,  in  all 
refpeds,  as  before  ;  the  crop  little  better  j 
but  applied  to  the  fame  ufe,  and  with 
equal  fuccefs. 

In  1768  four  acres  were  planted,  after 
oats;  the  foil,  a  rich  loamy  clay:  The 
ilubble  was  ploughed  in,  and  then  the 
field  dunged;  after  which  it  was  plough-? 
ed  twice  more,  and  planted,  as  in  the 
other  experiments.  Part  of  the  feed 
was  fown  before  winter,  and  part  in  the 
fpring :  The  cabbages  from  the  former 
proved  much  the  largefl.  Many  weighed 
30,  31,  32,  and  33  :  lb,  the  average  about 
i'-^  lb.   a  cabbage. 

Mr.  Dickjon,  upon  the  whole,  com- 
mends greatly  the  culture  of  this  moil  ufe- 


[  57  ] 
fill  vegetable,  for  the  feeding  of  milch 
cows :  He  is  determined  to  continue  the 
Cultivation  of  them  for  that  purpofe,  hav- 
ing found  them  fo  peculiarly  convenient^ 
that  a  lofs  of  cabbages  would,  in  a  great 
meafure,  be  a  lofs  of  the  winter's  milk. 

This  Gentleman  is  alfo  particularly 
attentive  to  the  management  of  his 
fences :  His  favourite  hedge  is  the  hollyj 
he  fows  the  feed  in  beds,  and  trans- 
plants them  into  rows  for  hedges ;  I  inea- 
fured  fome,  that  grew  upon  a  moift  foil, 
fix  feet  high,  in  fix  years  growth  :  It  is 
indubitably  the  firfl  of  all  fences,  grows 
very  thick,  clofe  to  the  ground,  and  is  of 
fo  ftubborn,  prickly  a  nature,  as  to  be  im-r 
penetrable  by  man  or  beafl. 

White  thorns  he  tranfplants  at  fix  feet 
high,  and  finds  them  to  anfwer  very  well. 

Upon  the  whole,  Mr.  Dickfoji  has  pro- 
ved, by  the  noble  and  fpirited  manner 
in  which  he  has  not  only  increafed  the 
number  of  people  on  his  eflate,  but 
advanced  their  interefls;  and  by  the 
fenfible  attention  he  has  given  to  agri- 
culture, that  the  nation  at  large,  as 
>vdl  as  this  neighbourhood  in  particular, 

are 


f  58  ] 

arc  greatly  indebted  to  him  for  his  judicioui 
coiidudt  in  all  matters  of  rural  oeconomics. 

Mr.  Clarke,  of  Belford,  (one  of  Mr. 
Dickfons  tenants,)  is  very  famous  in  the 
North  for  his  knowledge  of  mechanics. 
Among  other  inftances  of  his  (kill  in  this 
branch,  his  invention  of  a  draining  plough, 
which  obtained  a  premium  of  5  o/.  from 
the  Society,  is  one,  which  has  made  his 
name  publick  in  other  parts  of  the  king- 
dom, befides  his  own  neighbourhood. 

But  the  grand  machine  upon  which  he 
moft  builds  his  reputation,  is  that  of  one 
for  the  threihing  of  corn  :  How  far  it  will 
anfwer  has  not  been  tried,  becaufe  the 
machine  will  not  be  produced  until  a  fub- 
fcription  is  filled  *. 


*  The  following  are  his  propofals  to  the  public: 
They  certainly  merit  attention. 

Proposals yir  making  by  fubfcription,  complete  Machines 
for  Threjhing  CoRN, 
To    the    ¥  V  B  L  J  C, 
O  r  all  the  operations  of  the  laudable  profeflion  of 
the  hufbandman,  it  is  prefumed  none  are  performed  lefs 
to  his  fatisfa£l^ion  and  emolument,  none  more  detri- 
mental to  the  public,   and  more  oppreflive  to  the  poor 
labourer,  than  that  of  thrcfhing  corn.     The  difficulty 
of  finding  people  difpofed  to  undertake  this  drudgery, 
the  large  expence,  and  unavoidable  wafte  that  attends 
the  prefent  method  of  thrcfhing  corn  j  and  the  difap- 
pointments  that  are  met  with  by  not  having  grain  ready 

in 


[    59     ] 

Mr.  C/arkes  method  of  cultivating  tur- 
ncps,  is  peculiar:    He  fows   them   broad 


in  due  time  for  feed,  and  other  occafions,  are  lofies  and 
cmbarrafTments  that  the  moft  circumfpe6t  farmers  hi- 
therto have  not  been  able  to  prevent ;  and  as  corn  is  not 
marketable  until  it  is  threflicd,  the  public  have  un- 
doubtedly felt  fome  of  the  cfFedts  of  fcarcity  on  that 
account.     The  threfliers  themfelves,   although  near  a 
twentieth  of  all  they  threfti  is  allowed  them  for  their 
labour,  are  in  general  fo  overwhelmed  v/ith  poverty 
anddiftrefs  of  body,  that  they  are  of  all  the  honeft  la- 
bourers in  the  country  the  moft  miferable  :  Thefefadts, 
taken  together,  inconteftibly  prove,  beyond  the  force  of 
cuftom,  ignorance,  and  malice,  that  the  prefent  method 
of  doing  this  necelTary  work,  is  not  only  prejudicial  to 
individuals,  but  alfo  a  very  great  public  grievance.  And 
that  therefore  any  contrivance,  which  would  render 
the  labour  tolerable,  and  put  it  in  the  power  of  all  oc- 
cupiers of  corn  farms  to  have  their  corn  feparated  from 
the  ftraw,  in  fuch  quantities,  and  at   fuch  times  as 
they  think  proper,  at  a  moderate  expence,  cannot  but 
meet  with  a  candid  reception. 

Cuthbert  Clarkey  oi  Bel  ford ^  in  the  county  o^Northum' 
hcrland^  thinking  the  above  confiderations  woil  worthy 
his  intention,  has  employed  his  utmoft  efforts  to  accom- 
modate the  public  with  machines  for  the  above  purpofe ; 
and  flatters  himfelf,  that  the  machine  he  has  contrived 
will,  upon  trial,  meet  with  approbation,  as  it  will  make 
great  difpatch,  be  very  fimple,  commodious,  and  dura- 
ble *.  And  in  order  to  make  it  come  as  cheap  as 
poflible  to  the  fubfcribers,  he  intends  to  furnifh  them 
en  the  following  terms,  and  free  of  the  common  addi- 
tional expence  of  a  patent. 

•  It  is  impoflible  precifely  to  compute  the  time  fuch  a  machin« 
»iay  laft,  but  in  all  probability  it  will  threfti  annually  all  the  corn  pro- 
duced upon  a  two  hundred  pound  corn  farm,  and  lait  thirty  years  for 
about  ten  fhillings  a  year  repairs.  It  may  b?  conveyed  any  diftance  by 
two  good  carts,  and  may  be  placed  or  fet  up  in  two  days  time,  by  any 
country  Wright  who  can  follow  direftions. 

Con- 


[     6o     ] 

taHf  and  cuts  them  with  a  horfc  hoc, 
without  a  mold  board,  into  rows,  1 4  inches 
alunder,  then  with  hand-hoes  he  fets  them 
out  into  fquares  of  14  inches,  and  after 
that,  with  a  double  mold  board  plough, 
earths  them  up,  and  finds  the  crop  much 

Conditions. 

1.  This  machine  fhall,  in  ten  hours,  worked  by  one 
iiorfe  (with  a  boy  to  drive,  and  a  man  to  feed  the 
machine,  clear  ofFthe  ftraw,  &c.)  fairly  tHrefh  as  mudi 
corn  as  what  is  ufually  eftimated  the  work  of  eight 
men  for  that  time,  in  the  common  way  of  two  threfh- 
ing  together, 

2.  In  order  that  this  machine  may  be  both  lafting 
and  generally  ufeful,  the  inventor  engages  as  follows  : 
3 ft,  That  all  its  parts  fhall  conlift  of  good  materials, 
which  fhall  be  duly  proportioned  to  their  various  ufes. 
2d]y5  That  the  whole  procefs  of  feparating  the  grain 
from  the  ftraw,  fliall  be  rendered  fo  plain  and  eafy,  that 
a  common  labourer  may  be  trufted  with  the  full  ma- 
Jiagemcnt  of  it.  3dly,  That  the  conftru£lion  fhall  be 
fuch  as  may  be  contained,  and  conveniently  worked 
within  a  common  barn,  with  the  addition  only  of  a 
fmall  hovel  againft  one  fide  of  it. 

3.  A  trial  of  one  of  thefe  machines  is  intended  to  be 
et  Belford  aforefaid,  before  all,  or  as  many  of  the  fub- 
fcribers  as  can  attend,  within  one  month  after  fifty 
■fubfcriptions  are  completed,  of  which  particular  notice 
will  be  given. 

4.  If  at  this  trial  it  is  fully  proved,  that  the  machine 
anfwers  the  conditions  before  mentioned,  and  fecurity 
is  given,  that  each  fubfcriber  fhall  in  his  turn  (accord- 
ing to  the  method  the  fubfcribers  appoint  for  diftributing 
them)  have  a  machine  delivered  to  him,  or  order,  at 

^dford^  every  way  as  good  as  the  trial  machine ;  each 
of  the  fubfcribers  fhall  then  pay  the  fum  of  5  /.  in  part 
of  42/.  the  full  conftderation-money  for  one  com- 
plete 


(    6i     ] 

better  than  in  the  common  method,  and 
the  land  left  in  finer  order. 

An  experiment  he  tried  of  the  effedl  of 
eledricity  on  vegetation,  deferves  atten- 
tion ;  he  planted  two  turneps  in  two  boxes, 
€ach  containing  24/^.  of  earth:  He  kept 

plete  machine.  The  remainder  of  the  faid  fum 
of  42/.  to  be  pnid  at  the  delivery  of  each  machine,  by 
the  perfon  that  receives  it. 

N.  B.  The  inventor  having  been  informed,  f.nce 
propofals  for  making  the  abovementioned  Machines 
have  been  delivered,  that  many  people,  whofe  concerns 
in  the  farming-way  are  fmall,  are  very  defirnus  of  hav- 
ing machines,  for  the  above  purpofes,  of  fmaller  di- 
mcnftons  and  price :  He,  therefore,  tofuitthem,  and 
others,  who  rather  incline  to  have  fmall  machines,  has, 
upon  the  fame  principles,  conflriJCted  a  machine  with 
which  two  men,  without  any  other  afliftance,  with 
eafe,  rnay  in  ten  hours  fairly  threfh  as  much  corn  as  is 
ufually  eftimated  the  work  of  four  men  for  that  time, 
in  the  common  way  of  two  threfhing  together:  And 
intends  to  make  thefe  fmaller  m.achines  by  fubfcription, 
exaiStly  on  the  fame  conditions  with  the  large  machines, 
except  that  the  price  of  them  is  only  to  be  22  /.  each, 
and  the  part  of  that  fum,  which  is  to  be  advanced  at  the 
trial  of  the  machine  (which  will  be  at  the  fame  time  the 
large  machine  is  tried)  is  only  to  be  3/.  The  fmall  ma- 
chines, without  difengaging  any  of  their  parts,  may  be 
tranfported  from  one  place  to  another;  and  will  pro- 
bably laft  as  long  as  the  large  machines,  and  may  be 
kept  in  repair  at  a  proportionable  expence. 

All  Gentlemen,  &c.  who  intend  to  encourage  this 
defign,  by  fubfcribing,  and  have  not  an  opportunity  ot 
meeting  with  the  inventor,  are  defued  to  acknowledge 
it  by  letter  (fignifying  at  the  fame  time  which  of  the 
machines  they  chufe)  dircded  to  him  at  Bclji^d,  with- 
in four  months  from  the  date  hereof. 

them 


[      62      ] 

them  in  the  fame  cxpofurc,  and  all  cir- 
cumftances  the  fame  to  each,  fave  that  one 
was  eledlrified  twice  a  day,  for  two  months, 
at  the  end  of  which  time  it  was  in  full 
growth,  the  fkin  burfting,  and  weighed 
9  lb.  The  other,  at  the  end  of  four 
months,  did  not  quite  reach  that  weight : 
A  ftrong  proof  that  the  electric  fire  had  a 
remarkable  power  in  promoting  and  quick- 
ening the  vegetation. 

At  Waren,  near  Belford,  have  been  fbme 
improvements  of  moor  land,  which  deferve 
mention.  The  foil  is  a  black,  rotten, 
boggy,  peat  earth,  lets  at  i  j.  6  d.  an  acre. 
They  plough  it  up  in  OBober,  and  let  it  lie 
all  the  fucceeding  fummer  without  touch- 
ing, and  like  wife  the  winter,  when  they 
lime  it :  Of  this  manure  they  reckon  too 
much  cannot  be  laid  on ;  generally  i  o  or 
12  fother,  at  24  bufhels  each,  which 
cofts  3  J.  6^.  a  fother,  befides  leading, 
which  is  6  d.  Some  few  from  20  to 
30.  After  this  liming  they  crofs  plough 
it,  and  harrow  it  three  or  four  times; 
then  fow  turneps,  which,  if  wol  fown, 
want,  according  to  their  notions,  no 
hoeing.  They  are  worth,  upon  a  me- 
dium,    about     50  s.     per    acre.      After 

thefe 


[    63    ] 

thefc  turncps  they  plough  once  and  few 
•ats,  4  buQiels  to  the  acre,  and  gain  a  crop 
of  about  28  or  30.  This  crop  is  fucceeded 
by  a  fecond  of  oats,  managed  as  before, 
and  the  produce  much  the  fame :  After 
this  comes  a  third,  as  before ;  but  it 
fcldom  yields  above  20  bulhels  per  acre. 
After  this,  they  fallow  and  lime  it,  and 
fow  turneps,  which  are  not  worth  above 
25/.  an  acre.  Next  comes  oats,  of  which 
they  do  not  get  above  1 6  bufhels ;  they  fow 
fome  ray  grafs,  and  a  few  other  feeds, 
which  may  make  the  field  worth  5  or  6  j. 
an  acre,  for  5  or  6  years :  They  ufe  it  for 
cows  and  fheep.  A  worfe  lyftem  cannot 
well  be  conceived. 

At  Hettorty  a  few  miles  weft  of  Belford, 
the  husbandry  varies  much.  The  foils  arc 
light  loams,  and  rotten,  black,  moory 
land;  let  from  is,  6d,  to  15/.  an  acre; 
average,  about  6x.  6d.  Farms  rife  from 
100  to  700/.  a  year,  but  are,  in  general, 
from  2  to  300/.     Their  courfes  are, 

1.  Turneps 

2.  Barley 

3.  Clover 

4.  Oats. 


And, 


Fallow 

2.  Wheat 


•[    64    ^ 

2.  Wheat 

3.  Peafe 

4.  Wheat. 

They  plough  6  times  for  wheat,  foW 
£  bufliels  in  October,  and  do  not  reap,  in 
return,  above  10,  upon  an  average.  For 
barley,  they  plough  once  or  twice,  fow 
3  budiels  in  Aprily  and  gain,  in  return, 
about  24.  For  oats,  but  one  ploughing, 
fow  6  budiels  before  barley,  and  reckon 
the  medium  crop  at  30.  For  beans,  (of 
which  they  fow  but  few,)  they  plough  but 
once,  fow  31  bufliels,  broad  cafl,  never 
hoe  them,  and  gain  about  18  ;  ufe  them 
for  horfes.  For  peafe,  alfo,  one  plough- 
ing, fow  4  builiels,  and  gain  15.  They 
give  four  earths  for  turneps,  hoe  them 
twice;  the  medium  value  per  acre,  ^c^s, 
they  ,ufe  them  for  flieep  only. 

Clover  they  fow  with  barley ;  both  mow 
and  feed  it:  If  the  former,  they  get 
about  a  ton  and  half  per  acre. 

As  to  the  management  of  their  manure, 
they  ftack  their  hay  in  general  in  the 
farm  yard,  except  what  is  ufed  for  flieep ; 
but  know  nothing  of  chopping  Hubbies 
for  littering  the  farm  yards.  They  lime 
a   great  deal ;    lay   fix   cart  loads  on   an 

acre. 


[     6s     ] 

acre,  or  i  20  buflicls,  which  cod^  3  ;-.  9  ^. 
per  load,  belides  the  leading.  In  the  burn- 
ing of  lime,  one  load  of  coal  burns  two 
of  lime.  —  They  never  fold  their  flieep. 

Good  grafs  land  lets  at  20  j.  an  acre. 
They  ufe  it  chiefly  for  fatting  beads,  i  f 
acre  will  fat  one  of  70  or  80  ftonej  and 
an  acre  feed  four  lliecp.  They  very  feldom 
manure  it. 

Their  breed  of  cattle  Is  the  fhort  horned, 
both  for  fatting  and  milking.  The  product 
of  a  cow  they  reckon  at  4/.  4^.  a  good  one 
will  give  five  gallons  of  milk /^^r  day  :  They 
feed  them  in  winter  upon  both  hay  and 
flraw;  of  the  firft  of  which  a  cow  eats 
from  I  \  to  2  tons,  and  always  feed  in  a 
houfe.  Of  fwine  they  generally  keep  one 
to  two  cows.  Their  calves  do  not  fuck  at 
all,  but  are  brought  up  by  hand;  three 
months  for  rearing,  and  fix  weeks  for  the 
butcher.  A  dairy  maid  will  take  care  of 
12  cows.  The  fummer  joirt:  is  351.  and 
the  winter's  the  fame. 

The  profit  of  fatting  an  ox  of  70  fi:one 
they  reckon  50  x. 

Swine  they  fat  from  10  to  24  fiione. 

Their  flocks  of  fheep  rife  from  300  to 
2 coo,  and  reckon  the  profit  of  all  forts. 

Vol.  III.  F  one 


[    66    ] 

one  with  another,  at  5X.  per  flieep  per  an-' 
num.  They  keep  them  in  winter  and 
fpring  upon  their  flieep  walks  and  turneps ; 
of  the  latter  they  keep  fome  to  the  end 
o^  April,  The  average  weight  of  fleeces 
7  ib.  and  value  7  d,  per  lb. 

They  conftantly  falve  all  flieep  in  OBo- 
ber^  with  tar  and  butter;  two  gallons  of 
tar  and  a  firkin  of  butter,  melted  together, 
will  do  110.  They  reckon  this  method 
keeps  them  free  from  the  fcab,  warm  in 
the  bad  weather,  and  alfo  makes  the  wool 
grow. 

In  their  tillage  they  reckon  20  horfes 
and  as  many  oxen  necelTary  for  the  ma- 
nagement of  500  acres  of  arable  land ;  they 
ufe  in  a  plough  two  horfes  and  two  oxen, 
but  in  feme  lands  only  two  horfes,  which 
do  an  acre  a  day  in  fummer,  but  only  three 
roods  in  winter :  They  allow  their  horfes  two 
bufhels  of  oats  a  week/'i'r  horfe,  and  reckon 
the  annual  expence  per  horfe  at  6/.  6j-. 
The  winter  food  of  their  oxen  is  ftraw  and 
fome  coarfe  hay ;  and  they  calculate  the 
whole  annual  expence  at  lefs  than  50j-.  but 
horfes  are  the  beft,  though  not  in  proportion 
to  the  expence.  The  time  of  breaking  up 
the  bubbles  for  a  fallow  is  the  beginning  of 

March  -, 


[     6/     ] 

March  -,  and  the  price  per  acre  of  plough- 
ing 5  J-.  They  cut  from  five  inches  deep  to 
ten  in  light  loams.  They  know  nothing  of 
cutting  ftraw  into  chaff.  The  hire  ©f  a 
cart  and  three  horfes  is  7  j.  a  day. 

In  the  hiring  and  (locking  farms  they 
reckon  for  the  taking  one  of  500/.  a  year, 
that  from  1500  to  2000/.  is  neceffary. 

Land  fells  at  30  years  purchafc*     Ther^ 
are  many  freeholds  from  50  to  300/.  a  year. 
Much  land  in  this  neighbourhood  tythe 
free. 

Poor  rates  in  general  low,  from  nothing 
up  to  2  s.  in  the  pound.  The  poor  women 
and  children  in  total  idlenefs.  They  do  not 
drink  tea,  but  fmoke  tobacco  unconfcion- 
ably.  The  farmers  carry  their  corn  feven 
miles. 

The  general  oeconomy  of  the  country 
may  be  feen  from  the  following  particulai^ 
of  farms : 

2500  acres  in  all 
1250  arable 
1250  grafs 
^.650  rent 

22  horfes  ^'. 

30  mares  and  foals 
24  oxen 

F  2  4  cows 


[    68    ] 

4  cows 

40  fat  beafts 
40  young  cattle 
2000  fheep 

1  man 

2  maids 
35  labourers 
10  ploughs 

7  carts. 
Another, 

2500  acres  in  all 
1 000  arable 
1500  grafs 
jT.  700  rent 

15  horfes 

16  oxen 

7  mares  and  foals 
12  cows 

45  young  cattle 
2000  Iheep 

2  men 

2  maids 
20  labourers 

5  ploughs 

6  carts. 
Another, 

1 100  acres  in  all 
80Q  arable 


;oo  grafs 


[    69    ] 

300  grafs 
^.300  rent 
20  horfe 
8  oxen 

5  mares  and  foals 

6  cows 

50  young  cattle 
1000  fheep 

4  men. 
2  boys 
2  maids 

16  labourers 
6  ploughs 
6  carts. 

Another, 

1000  acres  In  all 
500  arable 
500  grafs 
jT. 320  rent 
14  horfes 
1 2  oxen 
8  mares  and  foals 

5  cows 

20  young  cattle 
1000  fheep 
2  men 
2  maids 

F  3  8  labour- 


[70    ] 

8  labourers 
4  ploughs 
4  cans. 
Another, 

70c  acres  in  all 
500  arable 
200  grafs 
^.  160  rent 
12  horfes 
12  oren 
6  mares  and  foals 
6  cows 
20  young  cattle 
500  fheep 
3  men 

1  boy 

2  maids 
10  labourers 

3  ploughs 
3  carts. 

Another, 

700  acres  in  all 
100  arable 
600  grals 
^.200  rent 
9  horfes 
8  oxen 
3  mares  and  foals 


6  cows 


[    7'    ] 
6  cows 

12  young  cattle 
700  ilieep 

1  man 

2  maids 

6  labourers 
2  ploughs 

2  carts. 
Another, 

240  acres  in  all 

30  arable 
210  grafs 

3  horfes 

5  mares  and  colts 

4  cows 

6  fatting  beafts 
400  fheep 

1  man 

2  maids 

3  labourers 
I  plough 

I  cart. 
Their  moor  hufbandry  is  as  follows  : 
They  plough  it  up  in  Odiober,  four  i:  hes 
deep,  and  let  it  fo  remain  till  the  O:toher 
following,  then  they  plough  it  again,  and 
fummer  fallow  liie  land,  and  lime  it,  the 
F  4  quantity 


[      72       ] 

quantity  before  mentioned,  and  fow  tur- 
neps3  the  crop  of  which  are  worth,  upon 
an  average,  about  50  j.  to  3  /.  an  acre  upon 
dry  land :  After  thefe  they  fow  oats,  and 
get  about  40  bufhels  per  acre,  and  with 
them  fow  down  with  ray  grafs,  three 
bu/liels  per  acre ,  after  which  the  land 
would  lett  for  4  j.  6  d.  per  acre,  and  will 
lad  feven  years.  After  this  they  break 
it  up  again,  and  take  two  crops  of  oats  and 
turneps,  but  not  near  fo  good  as  at  firft; 
then  they  lay  it  down  again.  This  procefs 
is  upon  dry  foils ;  if  they  are  wet,  they  do 
not  think  them  worth  meddling  with. 

Mr.  John  W'llkky  of  Hettojij  one  of  the 
moil  confiderable  farmers  in  this  county, 
has  tried  carrots  with  fuccefs  j  he  fows 
them  the  end  o^  March y  on  a  light  loam, 
hoes  them  twice,  to  the  diftance  of  five 
inches  afunder :  They  grow  to  the  fize  of 
a  man's  wrifc,  and  12  inches  long;  all 
cattle  are  very  fond  of  them,  particularly 
hogs.  Mr.  Wilkie  has  found  them  ex- 
tremely profitable. 

LABOUR. 

In  harvefl,  is.  6d. 

In  hay  time,  \s.  and  ale. 

In 


[    73    ] 

In  winter,  gd. 

Mowing  grafs,  2S. 

Hoeing  turneps,  4i-.  6  c/. 

New  ditching,  is.  2d.  a  rood. 

Thrafliing,  the  25th. 

Headman's  wages,  10/. 

Next  ditto,  7  /. 

Lad  of  10  or  12  years,  5/. 

Maids,   50/. 

Women  per  day  in  harveil,  i  s. 

In  hay  time,  6  d. 

In  winter,  4  d, 

IMPLEMENTS. 

No  waggons. 

A  cart,  7/.  7  s. 

A  plough,  I  /.  8  i". 

A  harrow,  i  /.  i  j". 

A  roller  5/. 

A  fcythe,  3  s. 

A  fpade,  3  J".  6d. 

The  laying  the  fhares  and  coulters,  and 
keeping  the  ploughs,  &c.  in  order, 
alfo  the  carts,  and  flioeing  the  horfes, 
the  blackfmiths  do  for  20  j-.  a  horfe,  and 
the  iron  :  If  iron  not  found,  40  s. 

PRO- 


[    74    ] 

PROVISIONS. 

Bread — barley  and  peafe. 

Cheefe,  id. 

Butter,  5  ^.  i6  oz. 

Beef,  3  d. 

Mutton,  2|^. 

Veal,  2  d. 

Pork,  3  d. 

Milk,  \d.2.  quart. 

Potatoes,  \s.  2d.2i  bufhel. 

Candles,  6  d. 

Soap,  6  d. 

Labourer's  houfe  rent,  lo  j-, 

Firing,  15^. 

Tools  all  found. 

BUILDING. 

Bricks,  loj. 

Tiles,  40/. 

Oak,  IS,  6  d. 

A{h,  IS. 

Mafon  /'frday,  is.  6d. 

Carpenter,  i  j-.  6  d. 

Thatcher,  is.  6  d. 

Farm  houfes  of  ftone. 


From 


[    75    ] 

From  Be/ford  to  Berwick  land  letts  upon 
an  average  at  12s.  an  acre,  farms  from  100/. 
to  500  /.  a  year.  Their  wheat  crops  amount 
to  24  huihds  per  acre  on  a  medium;  bar- 
ley 36,  and  oats  as  mucii.  Berwick  has 
nothing  more  worthy  notice  than  its  bridge 
over  the  Tweed. 


P  R  0  V  I  S  I 

0 

N  S. 

Bread,  10  oz.  wheaten. 

id. 

Other  ditto,  14  02;. 

I 

Butter,  18  oz. 

6 

Mutton, 

2i 

Beef, 

-       31 

Milk,  per  pint. 

- 

z 

Potatoes,  per  bufhel. 

-      2S. 

Candles, 

51 

Soap, 

6 

Labourer's  houfe-rent. 

- 

20  J-. 

firing,      - 

- 

2SS. 

Labour  as  at  Be/ford. 

From  Berwick  to  WooUer  land  letts  upon 
an  average  at  9  s.  per  acre ;  farms  from 
200/.  to  1000/.  a  year. 

About  Fenton,  near  Woller,  the  foil  in 
the  vales  is  a  fandy  loam  of  2  feet  depth, 
but  upon  the  higher  lands  it  is  not  more 

than 


[    76    ] 

than  from  3  to  6  inches  deep.  Letts  from 
2s.  6d.  to  12  s,  and  fome  to  20  j.  an 
acre. 

Farms  from  100  /.  to  2000  /.  a  year. 

Their  courfes  are, 

1.  Turneps 

2.  Barley 

3.  Oats 

4.  Peafe 

5.  Wheat 
Alfo, 

1.  Fallow 

2.  Rye 

3.  Oats. 

4.  Oats. 
And, 

1.  Turneps 

2.  Barley 

3.  Peafc 

4.  Wheat. 

This  is  a  very  good  courfe. 

They  flir  for  wheat  three  or  four  times, 
fow  3  bufhels  in  Ociober,  and  reap  upon  an 
average  3  quarters.  For  barley  they  plough 
once,  fow  3  bufhels  and  \  about  the  middle 
gI  April 'y  and  reckon  the  mean  produce  at 
3  quarters  and  \, 

For 


[    77    ] 

For  oats  they  plough  but  once,  fow  fix 
buihels  before  barley,  and  gain,  in  return, 
from  four  to  fix  quarters.  Beans  and  peafe 
they  mix,  and  fow  of  them  four  buihels 
on  one  ploughing,  broad  caft ;  never  hoe 
them;  the  crop  about  25  bufliels.  For 
peafe  they  give  but  one  ploughing,  fow  three 
buihels  and  a  half,  and  get  20  in  return. 
For  rye,  after  turneps,  they  plough  but 
once,  after  a  fallow  three  or  four  times, 
fow  two  buihels,  ahd  get  30.  They 
flir  for  turneps  three  or  four  times,  hoe 
once,  in  common,  and  fometlmes  twice  j 
the  average  value  per  acre,  50^-.  They 
ufe  them  chiefly  for  feeding  iheep. 

Clover  they  fow  with  barley,  and  mow 
it  for  hay,  of  which  they  get  about  two 
tons  per  acre  -,  and  fow  oats  after. 

In  the  management  of  their  manure  in 
the  farm-yard,  they  have  only  fuch  as  they 
make  from  feeding  their  hay  and  ftraw, 
as  they  flack  the  former  not  in  the  fields, 
but  in  the  farm  yards.  They  know  nothing 
of  chopping  flubbles.  Of  lime  they  lay 
from  three  to  eight  loads,  30  buihels  each; 
it  cofls  4  J.  a  load,  befides  the  leading. 
They  never  fold  their  fheep. 

Good  grafs  land  letts  at  los.  an  acre; 

they 


[    78    ] 

they  apply  it  chiefly  to  breeding.  An  acre 
and  a  half  will  feed  a  cow,  and  one  acre  keep 
four  fheep ;  They  never  manure  it.  The 
breed  of  their  cattle  is  the  fhort  horned, 
which  they  prefer  to  any  other  -,  their  oxen 
are  very  large,  fat  to  150  ftone.  They 
reckon  the  produd  of  a  cow  at  3  /.  They 
give  about  four  gallons  of  milk  per  day : 
They  keep  about  two  pigs  to  a  cow.  The 
winter  food  of  their  cows,  ftraw  and  hay; 
of  the  latter  of  which  they  generally  eat 
about  two  tons  each.  The  winter  joift  is 
25  J-.  and  the  fjmmer,  30.  They  do  not 
let  their  calves  fuck  at  all,  but  feed  them 
by  hand,  from  three  to  five  weeks,  for  the 
butcher,  but  half  a  year  for  rearing. 
They  keep  their  cows  all  winter  in  the 
houfe. 

Their  flocks  of  flieep  rife  from  500  to 
10,000;  and  the  profit  of  them  they  cal- 
culate at  8  J-.  in  the  vales,  and  3  s.  upon  the 
hills.  The  winter  and  fpring  food  are  the 
commons ;  but  they  give  fome  hay  in  very 
ftormy  weather  :  The  weight  of  the  fleeces 
from  3  to  7  /^.  in  the  vales,  and  from  2  to 
4  on  the  hills,  and  from  6  ^.  to  9  d.  price. 
Very  large  flocks  of  ewes  are  milked 
ofter  the  lambs  are  v/eaned,  for  from  6  to 

10 


[    79    ] 

10  weeks :  They  make  the  milk  into  butter 
and  cheefe,  the  amount  of  both  which 
may  amount  to  about  2  j-.  a  head  :  The 
butter  is  all  ufed  in  falving  them;  the 
cheefe  fells  fo  high  as  \d.  a  pound.  The 
hinds  wives  milk  them.  This  is  but  a 
paltry  affair. 

In  their  tillage  they  reckon  20  horfes  and 
16  oxen  neceifary  for  the  management 
of  500  acres  of  arable  land  5  their  draught 

2  horfes  and  2  oxen,  which  does  an  acre  a 
day.  Their  allowance  of  oats  per  day  is  \ 
a  peck,  and  they  reckon  the  annual  ex- 
pence  of  a  horfe  at  5  /.  The  fummer  joift 
of  a  horfe  is  25  ^.  The  winter  food  of  the 
draught  oxen,  flraw  and  hay,  but  never 
work  on  ftraw  alone  :  They  prefer  horfes 
fo  much  that  oxen  are  going  out  of  ufe  by 
degrees.  The  time  of  breaking  up  their 
ftubbles  is  at  Candlemas ,  from  4  to  7 
inches  deep ;  the  price  of  ploughing  from 

3  J-.  6  d.  lo  5  s.  And  that  of  a  cart,  three 
horfes,  and  driver,  4  s. 

They  know  nothing  of  cutting  ftraw 
into  chaff. 

They  calculate,  that  a  man  who  hires  a 
farm  of  500  /.  a  year,  fhould  have  from  2 
to  3000  /. 

Land 


[    8o    ] 

Land  fells  at  30  years  purchafe:  Very 
few  fmall  eftates. 

Tythes  in  general  compounded. 
It  is  not  the  cuftom  for  the  farmers  to 
raife  any  thing,  by  way  of  rate,  for  the 
maintenance  of  their  poor,  but  each  keeps 
his  own  fliare :  As  to  the  expence,  it 
fcarcely  amounts  to  a  farthing  in  the  pound. 
The  poor  women  and  children  have  no 
employment.  They  are  not  tea  drinkers, 
but  fmoke  tobacco  immoderately. 

The  farmers  carry  their  corn  eight  miles. 
The  oeconomy  of  their  farms  may   be 
fcen  from  the  following  iketches. 
6000  acres  in  all 
2000  arable 
4000  grafs 
^.  1050  rent 
100  horics 
80  oxen 
30  cows 
200  young  cattle  , 

8 coo  fheep 
12  men 
6  boys 
6  maids 
80  labourers 
'    1 5' ploughs 
20  carts.  Another, 


[     Si     J 

Another, 

5000  acres  in  all 
1500  arable 
3500  grafs 
jT.  1500  rent 
80  horfes 
60  oxen 
30  cows 
150  young  cattl* 
3000  fheep 
3  men 

3  boys 

4  maids 
50  labourers 
15  ploughs 
20  carts. 

Another, 

2000  acres  in  all 
500  arable 
1 500  grafs 
^.700  rent 
20  horfes 
20  oxen 
20  cows 
80  young  cattle 
2000  (heep 
2  men 
2  boys 
"Vol.  III.  G  %  maids 


[       §2       ] 

2  maids 
25  labourers 

8  ploughs 
10  carts. 

Another, 

1000  acres  in  all 
400  arable 
600  grafs 
^.500  rent 
20  horfes 
16  oxen 
8  cows 
60  young  cattle 
800  Iheep 

3  men 
3  boys 
2  maids 

16  labourers 
I  waggon 

7  carts 

8  ploughs^ 

LABOUR. 
In  harveft,  i ;-.  6  d. 
In  hay- time,  is,  6d, 
In  winter,  is. 
Mowing  grafs,   u.  4^.  to  is.  6d. 

Hoeing; 


[   h   ] 

Hoeing  turneps,   3^.  to  6j-. 

Threihing,  the  25th  part. 

Head  man's  wages,   8  /. 

Next  ditto,  6  /. 

Boy  of  10  or  12  years,   3  /. 

Maids,   50  J",  to  3  /. 

Women  per  day,  in  harvefl,  8  ^.  to  i  s. 

In  hay-time,  4  d. 

In  winter,  4^. 

But  I  fliould  here  remark,  that  fome  of 
thefe  prices  refped:  only  the  hands  which 
do  not  belong  to  the  village  j  for  their  own 
labourers  are  not  paid  in  money,  but  in 
what  is  called  here  l?o//  andjient :  That  is, 
the  farmer  pays  as  follows.  He  keeps  the 
man  two  cows ;  allows  him  66  bufhels  of 
grain  of  all  forts ;  one  ftone  of  wool,  (24/^. 
to  the  ftonej)  leads  his  coals  j  finds  him  a 
houfe ;  half  a  rood  of  land  for  potatoes ; 
keeps  him  a  hog,  and  fov/s  half  a  peck  of 
flax  for  him  :  The  wife  has  5  j-.  for  her  hay 
and  harveft  5  and  a  boy,  when  of  12  years 
of  age,  30  bufhels  of  corn. 

IMPLEMENTS. 

A  waggon,  18  /. 

A  cart,  7  /. 

A  plough,  i/.  8.f. 

G  2  A  har- 


[     84    ] 

A  harrow,  i8/. 
A  roller,   3  /. 
A  fcythe,   2J-.  6d. 
A  rpade,    3  j-.  6d, 
Laying  a  fhare,  4  d. 

' '■ a  coulter,  4^. 

Shoeing,    is.  ^d. 

PROVISIONS, 

Bread  —  peafe  and  barley. 

Cheefe,    21  d. 

Butter,  ^d.  16  oz. 

Beef,   3  d. 

Mutton,  3  d. 

Veal,  2  d. 

Pork,  3  d. 

Milk,   f  three  pints. 

Potatoes,  3  ^.  a  peck. 

Candles,  6  d.  ^  per  lb. 

Soap,  t  \d. 

Labourer's  houfe-rent,  9  to  lis. 

firing,   20  s. 

— — . Tools  found  by  the  farmerr 

BUILDING. 

Bricks,   12  j.  t  d,  afld  vile. 
Tiles,  45  J-. 

Oak 


[    85    3 
Oak  timber,   2  s.  per  foot. 
Afli,   I  s. 

Mafon  per  day,   i  j-.  6  d. 
Carpenter,   ditto. 
Farm-houfes  of  ilone  and  tile. 

In  the  townfhip  of  Fenton  are 
j6oo  acres 
2  farms 
1000  acres  flieep-walk 
30  labourers 
34  horfes 
30  oxen 
46  cows 
1 1 50  fheep. 

From  Wooler  I  turned  afide  to  go  up 
Cheviot  Hill,  whofe  towering  head  invited 
me  to  the  profped:,  which  I  could  not  but 
fuppofe  he  muft  command.  The  height 
of  this  mountain  is  prodigioully  great,  and 
the  view  from  it  on  all  fides  moft  extenfive. 
I  faw  Gate/head  Felly  near  Newcaftky  at 
the  diftance  of  55  miles,  and  feveral  objects 
mScotlandy  hey ond-Editiburgh,  as  I  was  told. 

Between  Wooller  and  Rothbury,  and  alfo 

between  Alnwick   and  Rothhiry,   are  vaft 

tracks  of  mountainous  moors :   indeed  all 

the  latter  fifteen  miles  arc  abfolutely  un- 

G    1  cultivated. 


[    86    ] 

cultivated,  except  half  a  mile  of  inclofed 
valley  about  half  way :  The  ling  in  vaft 
tracks,  high,  thick,  and  luxuriant,  and  the 
foil  a  fine  light  loam:  In  fome  places 
black,  but  every  where  deep.  I  do  not 
conceive  that  there  is  an  acre  of  it,  but 
what  might  be  made,  at  a  fmall  ex- 
pence,  worth  8  or  lo  s.  for  ever.  What 
a  field  for  improvement !  What  a  noble 
fource  of  riches  and  population !  How 
much  is  it  to  be  regretted  that  fuch  exten- 
five  tracks  of  land  fhould  remain  in  fuch  a 
defolate  condition,  whilii  the  products  of 
the  earth  fell  at  a  beneficial  price ;  and 
while  v/e  hear  fuch  clamours  among  the 
people  for  want  of  a  greater  plenty  of 
food. 

About  Kothbury  the  foil  is  both  gravely 
clay,  fand,  and  moory  j  the  inclofures  let 
at  20  s.  an  acre  y  the  moors  at  i  /.  and 
afterwards  at  2  j-.  6  d.  and  more. 

Farms  rife  from  50/.  to  150/.  a  year. 

The  courfes  : 

1,  Fallow 

2.  Wheat 

3.  Barley 

4,  Oats. 

And. 


[    87    ] 

And, 

1 .  Turneps  fed  off  for 

2.  Wheat 

3.  Barley 

4.  Oats. 

AHb, 

1.  Turneps 

2.  Barley 

3.  Oats 

4.  Oats, 

For  wheat  after  turneps  they  plough 
but  twice  ',  after  fallow  three  or  four  times ; 
fow  two  bufhels  an  acre  in  OBober  and 
November,  and  reap  from  fixteen  to  twenty. 
For  barley  they  ftir  twice,  fow  three  bu- 
fhels the  end  of  April  or  the  beginning  of 
May,  and  reckon  the  average  produce 
twenty-four  bufhels.  They  plough  but 
once  for  oats,  fow  fix  bufhels,  before  bar- 
ley, and  gain  in  return  from  forty  to  fixty. 
For  peafe  they  give  but  one  ploughing, 
fow  two  bufliels,  before  barley,  and  get, 
upon  an  average,  about  ten  bufliels.  They 
ftir  three  or  four  times  for  rye,  fow  two 
bufhels,  and  reap  twenty. 

For  turneps  they  plough  thrice,  hoe 
them  twice,  and  reckon  the  mean  value 
per  acre  at  3  /.  ufe  them  for  fheep  and 

G  4  beafls. 


[    88     ] 

beails.  Potatoes  they  prepare  for  by  both 
ploughing  and  digging  -,  if  the  former, 
they  ftir  three  times,  and  manure  the  land 
well :  They  lay  the  flices  in  the  furrows, 
and  hand-hoe  them  as  the  weeds  rife,  once 
or  twice  :  They  get  eighty  bufhels  oft  an 
acre,  and  reckon  the  crop  very  profitable  : 
Wheat  or  barley  after  them. 

Their  chief  manure  is  liming ;  they  lay 
five  load  per  acre,  at  twenty-four  bufhels 
fer  load,  and  generally  on  the  fallow  for 
turneps  or  wheat.  Their  hay  they  ftack 
at  home.  Though  improvers  of  moors, 
yet  they  know  little  of  the  paring  and 
burning  hufbandry. 

Good  grafs  will  let  for  a  guinea  an  acre : 
They  ufe  it  more  for  fatting  beafts  than 
for  feeding  cows  :  One  acre  of  good  grals 
will  carry  a  cow  through  the  fummer,  or 
four  flieep.  The  breed  of  cattle  is  the 
fhort  horns,  of  which  they  feed  oxen  from 
60  to  120  ftone. 

They  reckon  the  produdl  of  a  cow  at 
4/.  10  J.  or  5/.  and  expc6t  two  firkins 
and  a  half  of  butter  from  each  upon  an 
average.  A  good  one  will  give  fix  or  (even 
gallons  of  milk  per  day :  One  kept  by 
Mr.  Whit  tarn,  when  he  lived  near  Roth- 

bury. 


[    89    ] 

hurji  gave  in  common  24  gallons  a-day  : 
A  fad:  I  much  doubted,  until  the  perfon 
who  gave  me  the  intelligence  called  in 
two  or  three  perlbns  to  vouch  for  the  truth 
of  it.  They  keep  about  two  pigs  to  five 
or  fix  cows.  The  winter  food  is  hay  and 
firaw,  of  the  former  about  half  an  acre. 
The  calves  never  fuck  at  all,  but  are 
brought  up  by  hand  ;  for  the  butcher  three 
weeks,  and  for  rearing  three  months. 

Their  flocks  of  fheep  rife  from  40  with- 
out right  of  commonage,  to 4000 with;  and 
they  reckon  the  profit  at  js.  a-head;  their 
common  winter  food  is  on  the  moors,  but 
in  deep  fnows  they  give  them  hay.  Their 
fleeces  run  from  3 -to  bib. 

In  their  tillage  they  calculate  four  horfes 
and  four  oxen  necefiary  for  the  culture  of 
100  acres  of  arable  land.  They  ufe  two 
horfes  and  two  oxen  in  a  plough,  fome- 
times  only  two  horfes,  and  do  from  half 
to  three  quarters  of  an  acre  a-day.  They 
allow  their  horfes  three  gallons  of  oats  per 
week  y  and  reckon  the  annual  expencc 
per  horfe  at  6  /.  Their  draught  oxen  they 
feed  on  fi:raw  and  hay  in  the  winter. 
Horfes  they  exped:  will  do  more  than 
pxen,  but  the  latter  arc  much  the  cheapeft. 

They 


[    90     ] 

They  break  up  their  ftubbles  for  a  fallow 
in  May,  The  price  of  ploughing  is  3  j.  6  d* 
an  acre,  and  the  depth  five  inches.  The 
hire  of  a  cart  for  carrying  coals  is  5  J.  a  day, 
for  working  in  the  roads  3  s. 

In  the  hiring  and  flocking  of  farms,  they 
reckon  that  350/.  is  neceffary  to  flock  one 
of  100/.  a  year. 

Tythes  are  generally  compounded  for  in 
the  total.  Poor  rates  from  \s.  to  \  s.  10  d. 
in  the  pound.  The  employment  of  the 
women  and  children  is  chiefiy  fJDinning 
wool. 

The  farmers  carry  their  corn  17  miles. 
The  general  ceconomy  of  the  country 
will    appear  from    the   following  particu- 
lars of  farms : 

450  acres  in  all. 
250  arable. 
200  grafs. 
^.  180  rent. 
9  horfes 
8  oxen 
15  cows 
20  young  cattle 
1000  fheep 
I  man 
3  boys 

4  maids 


[    9'     ] 

4  maids 
2  labourers. 
Another, 

200  acres  in  all 
8o  arable 
I20  grafs 
£.70  rent 
4  horfes 
2  oxen 
10  cows 
8  young  cattle 
200  fheep 
I  man 
I  boy 
I  maid 
I  labourer. 
Another, 

130  acres  in  all 
90  grafs 

40  arable 
^.35  rent 

5  cows 

4  horfes 

4  young  cattle 

100  fheep 

I  boy 

I  maid 

1  labourer. 

Another, 


[    92     J 

Another, 

loo  acres  in  all 
50  grafs 
50  arable 
jC- 30  rent 
4  horfefi 
2  oxen 
4  cows 

8  young  cattle 
50  fheep 
I  man 
I  boy 
I  maid. 

LABOUR. 

In  harveft,  is,  4^.  and  is,  6d.  and  a  dinner.  * 

In  hay  time,  i  s.  dinner  and  beer. 

In  winter,  i  s, 

Thrafhing,  the  19th  of  all  grain. 

Head  man's  wages,  12/. 

Next  ditto,  8  /. 

Boy  of  10  or  12  years,  3/. 

Maids,  3/.  and  3  /.  los. 

Women  per  day  in  harveft,  10  d,  and  i  s, 

and  dinner. 
In  hay  time,  6  d,  and  dinner^ 
In  winter,  4  d, 

PRO-. 


[    93    ] 

PROVISIONS,  &c. 

Bread— Barley  and  peafe 

Cheefe,  per  lb,  7.\d, 

Butter,   5^.     i6  i?2;. 

Beef,   4^. 

Mutton,   id. 

Veal,   2  d.  and  2  |  </. 

Pork,    31^. 

Milk,  a  pint,    \ 

Potatoes,  I  J".    12  quarts. 

Candles,  7  ^. 

Soap,  7^. 

Labourer's  houfe  rent,  10/.  to  2 ox. 

"  firings  20J-. 

IMPLEMENTS. 

No  waggons, 

A  cart,  5  /. 

A  plough,   17X. 

A  harrow,   10  s. 

A  fcythe,  is.  S d. 

A  fpade,  3  j.  6  d. 

Laying  a  fhare  and  coulter,  8  d. 

Shoeing,   1  s.  ^.d, 

B  U  I  L  D  I  N  a 

Oak  timber,   i  s,  ^  d,  per  foot 
Aih,   IS.  6d. 

Elm, 


[    94    ] 

Elm,  I  s.  6  d, 
A  mafon,  per  day,    i  s.  6d. 
A  carpenter,   is.  6  d. 
Farm  houfes  of  ftone. 

From  Rothbury  I  took  the  road  to  Wol" 
lington ;  the  foil  various,  much  uncultiva- 
ted, though  not  fo  defert  a  track  as  the 
laft.  A  few  miles  before  Camh,  there  is 
a  very  fine  new^-made  lake  of  Sir  Walter 
Blackett'Sf  furrounded  by  young  planta- 
tions, which  is  a  noble  water  j  the  bends 
and  curves  of  the  bank  are  bold  and  natu- 
ral, and  when  the  trees  get  up,  the  whole 
fpot  will  be  remarkably  beautiful. 

About  Cambo  the  foil  is  chiefly  clay  and 
moory  land,  letts  from  ioj-.  to  20j-.  an  acre. 
Farms  from  30/.  to  100/.  a  year.  Their 
courfes  are, 

1.  Fallow 

2.  Barley 

3.  Oats 

4.  Oats. 
And, 

I.  Fallow 

2..  Wheat  > 

3.  Oats 

4.  Oats. 

Alfo, 


[    95    ] 
Alfo, 

1.  Fallow 

2.  Rye 

3.  Oats. 

But  not  often  three  crops  to  a  fallow,  upon 
the  whole. 

They  plough  four  times  for  wheat,  fow 
three  bufliels  in  OBober  and  beginning 
of  November^  and  reap  about  24. 

For  barley,  they  ftir  four  times,  fow 
from  four  to  five  bufliels  in  Aprils  and 
reckon  the  average  produce  at  35. 

They  ftir  but  once  for  oats,  fow  7  bufliels 
after  barley  fowing,  and  get  upon  a  me- 
dium about  50  bufliels. 

For  rye  they  plough  four  times,  fow 
three  bufliels  and  half  (a  vafl:  quantity)  and 
reap  upon  a  medium  1 8  bufliels. 

They  give  four  earths  for  turneps,  hoe 
them  but  once;  and  reckon  the  average 
value  at  3  /.  per  acre  :  Ufe  them  for  fheep, 
beafl:s  and  cows. 

Lime  is  their  principal  manure,  lay  a 
fother  or  ton  per  acre,  that  is,  24  bufliels, 
on  fallow  J  the  cofl:  zs,  t  d.  Their  hay 
they  fl:ack  at  home. 

Good  grafs  land  letts  at  from  20/. 
to  25  J^.  an  acre;  they  apply  it  chiefly  to 

the 


[     96     ] 

the  dairy ;  an  acre  and  half  they  calculate 
as  a  cow's  fummer  feed.  Their  breed  of 
cattle  is  the  middling,  between  the  long 
and  (hort  horned :  Their  oxen  they  fat  up 
from  50  to  100  ftone,  but  generally  60. 

They  value  the  product  of  a  cow  at  4/. 
IOJ-.  or  5/.  feed  them  in  winter  on  hay 
and  ftraw ;  of  the  former  of  which  they 
eat  about  an  acre  and  half,  and  always  in  a 
houfe.  They  keep  three  or  four  fwine  to 
ten  cows.  Their  calves  fuck  fome  three 
weeks  or  a  month,  and  fome  not  at  all. 

Their  fwine  they  fat  from  20  to  30 
flone. 

About  Cambo  they  keep  no  fliecp,  upon 
account  of  the  white-thorn  hedges  in  their 
new  inclofurcsi  but  within  a  mile  or  two 
from  1 00  to  1 000 ;  the  profit  they  reckon 
at  8  s.  per  iheep  :  Keep  them  both  winter 
and  fpring  on  the  commons. 

They  calculate  that  fix  horfes  and  fix 
oxen  are  requifite  for  the  culture  of  100 
acres  of  arable.  They  ufe  three  horfes  ini 
a  plough,  or  two  horfes  and  two  oxen, 
and  do  three  roods  a  day.  Their  allow- 
ance of  oats  is  two  bulliels  of  oats  per  horfe 
per  week;  and  reckon  the  annual  expence 
at  6  /.   \o  s.     The   time   of  breaking  up 

their 


[    97    ] 

their  ftubbles  for  a  fallow  is  In  March  or 
April.  The  price  of  ploughing  3  s.  ari 
acre,  and  the  depth  five  inches.  The 
hire  of  a  cart,  three  horfesj  and  a  driver, 
is  3  J.  a  day. 

They  reckon  that  a  man  fhould  be  worth 
300/.  who  hires  a  farm  of  100/.  a  year. 
Tythes  are  taken  in  kind. 
Poor  rates  6  i.  in  the  pound;  their  em- 
ployment knitting  and  fpinning. 

Twenty-one  miles  is  the  diftance  the 
farmers  carry  their  corn. 

The  following  fketches  of  farms  will 
fhew  the  general  oeconomy  of  the  country. 
200  acres  in  all 
150  arable 
50  grafs 
jT.  100  rent 
8  horfes 
8  oxen 
12  cows 
20  young  cattle 

1  man 

2  boys 

1  maid 

2  labourers. 
Another, 

300  acres  in  all 
tot.  HI.  H  ijoarabie 


[    98    ] 

150  arable 
150  grafs 
jf.  1 40  rent 
10  horfes 
8  oxen 
20  cows 
20  young  cattle 
2  men 
2  boys 

2  maids 

3  labourers. 
Another, 

90  acres  in  all 
40  arable 
50  grafs 
^.50  rent 

4  horfes 
2  oxen 

5  cows 

6  young  cattle 
I  boy 

I  maid 
I  labourer, 

LABOUR. 

In  harveft,  is.  and  board. 

In  hay  time,  ditto. 

In  winter,  Sd,  and  10  d,  and  ditto. 

Headman's  wages,  12  /. 

Next 


[    99    ] 
Next  ditto,  8  /. 

Boy  of  ten  or  twelve  years,  3  /. 
Maids,  3  /.  to  5  /. 

Women  per  day  in  harvcft,  i  s,  and  dinner* 
In  hay  time,  8  d,  and  ditto* 
In  winter,  6  d, 

IMPLEMENTS. 

No  waggons. 

A  cart,  7/.  I  o  s, 

A  plough,  20  J. 

A  harrow,  12  s, 

A  fey  the,  2  j.  6  ^.  to  4  s, 

A  fpade,  't^s.  6d. 

Laying  a  fhare  and  coulter,  ^*  and  iron* 

Shoeing,  6  d.  and  iron. 

PROVISIONS,   &c. 

Bread — ^rye,  maflin,  and  barley. 
Cheefe,   2  d. 
feutter,  6\d,  21  oz. 
Beef,   3  d. 
Mutton,  3  d. 
Milk,  \  d.  three  pihts. 
Potatoes,   is,  6 d,  2.  bufhel. 
Labourers  houfe  rent,  from  5  j.  to  15  x^ 
firing,  16/. 

H  2  fFa//ing^ 


[     100     ] 

WalUngtony  the  feat  of  Sir  Walter  Blac- 
kettj  is  a  large  handfome  houfe,  which  ap- 
pears, from  the  difpofition  of  the  apart- 
ments, to  be  very  convenient.  We  were 
fhewn  iirfl:  into  fome  common  keeping 
ones,  a  Hbrary,  dining  parlour,  ^c.  in 
which  I  remarked  a  piece  of  dead  game, 
by  Hubenery  that  was  well  done  j  and  ano- 
ther of  dancing  dogs,  grotefque  enough. 
In  the  dining-room,  of  40  by  21,  the 
chimney-piece  of  white  marble  is  hand- 
fome ;  the  cieling  of  ftucco  work  in  fcrolls, 
very  light  and  pretty.  Here  is  alfo  ano- 
ther piece  of  dead  game  by  Hubenery  fome 
of  it  well  executed  i  and  at  the  other  end 
of  the  room  the  portrait  of  a  hat  and  ruf- 
fles. Likevvlfe  a  needlework  fcreen  of  tent 
Iritch,  very  elegant. 

The  faloon,  40  by  22,  and  a  good 
height  j  a  mofl:  elegantly  proportioned 
room.  The  cieling  and  the  whole  very 
neatly  worked  in  flucco :  The  former 
coved,  the  center  an  oblong  of  mofaics  -, 
and  the  cove,  fcrolls  and  feftoons.  The 
chimney-piece  handfome,  of  llatuary  mar- 
ble polilhed ;  in  the  center,  boys  gather- 
ing grapes,  in  relievo.  The  furniture  of 
tills  room  is  very  elegant.     There  are  two 

Dabs 


[     >o.      ] 

flabs  of  very  beautifully  veined  marble,  or 
compofition ;  and  under  them  very  fine 
china  jars.  In  one  corner  of  the  room  is 
a  noble  china  ciftern.  The  two  giran- 
doles of  gilt  carving,  for  feveral  candles, 
are  exceedingly  light  and  elegant;  and 
the  china  jars  on  the  chimney-piece,  very 
fine. 

The  drawing-room,  34  by  22,  hung 
with  lilk  and  worfted  crimlbn  damafk. 
The  cieling  ornamented  in  flucco,  with 
light  fcrolls,  furrounding  a  center  of  boys 
emptying  a  Cormiacopia,  The  chimney- 
piece  of  polifhed  white  marble,  with  k(- 
toons  of  grapes,  &c.  Over  it  a  landfcape, 
architecture,  and  trees,  in  a  light,  glow- 
ing, brilliant  ftile ;  extremely  pleafing, 
though  not  perfectly  natural.  Slabs  very 
elegant,  the  glalTes  large,  and  the  frames 
of  both  very  neatly  carved  and  gilt. 

A  drefling-room,  2 1  fquare  -,  and  a  bed- 
chamber, 22  by  21. 

The  new  kitchen  gardens  are  excellently 
difpofed,  kept  in  admirable  garden  huf- 
bandry,  and  the  conveniency  of  water  very 
great.  The  gardener's  houfe  is  pleafantly 
fituated  on  the  banks  of  the  river  i  and, 
from  feveral  very  neat  bow  window  rooms, 
H  3  an 


[      ^02      ] 

an  agreeable  view  of  three  water-falls  in 
the  river. 

It  will  not  here  be  impertinent  to  add, 
that  Sir  Walter  Blackefs  is  the  only  placQ 
I  have  viewed,  as  a  granger,  where  no 
fees  were  taken. 

The  roads  through  Sir  Waiters  eftate, 
which  is  of  very  great  extent,  are  excel- 
lent ;  a  piece  of  magnificence  which  can- 
not be  too  much  praifed.  The  country  is 
all  newly  inclofed,  and  Sir  Walters  hedges 
remarkably  good ;  he  feems  very  attentive 
to  raife  line  fences,  for  the  v/hite  thorns  are 
very  regular,  luxuriant,  and  kept  perfed:ly 
clean  from  weeds.  From  Wallington  to 
Choleford  Bridge  land  letts  from  i  o  j.  to 
20  ,f.  an  acre  -,  farms  from  i  oo  /.  to  400  /, 
a  year. 

From  the  latter  place  to  Glenwelt,  the 
country  is  all  moor,  but  of  an  excellent 
foil :  And,  what  is  aftonifhing,  vafl  trads 
of  le^Jel  valley^  not  gills,  as  they  are  called 
in  the  North  j  that  is,  narrow  feparations 
between  the  mountains,  without  level 
ground  :  And  thefe  breadths  of  fiat  foil  are 
of  an  extraordinary  depth  and  richnefs, 
and  evidently  want  nothing  but  inclofing 
gnd  draining  to  be  made  at  once  worth 

lOJi. 


J 


[  1^3  ] 
3© J.  an  acre;  nor  are  thefe  low  lands  of 
any  trifling  extent,  but  amount  in  quantity 
to  fome  thoufands  of  acres.  It  is  amazing, 
that  in  a  country,  in  which  a  free  exporta- 
tion of  corn  was  allowed  for  fo  many  years, 
fuch  tracts  of  land  fhould  remain  in  fo  de- 
fer! a  ftate.  What  infatuation  in  the  fu- 
perior  fort  of  cultivators,  to  pay  fb  high 
for  land,  in  fo  many  parts  of  the  king- 
dom, while  fuch  fertile  waftes  remain  un- 
cultivated. Great  part  of  this  country  is 
a  green  fward,  or  what  in  Torkjhire  is 
called  White  Land, 

About  Glenwelt  the  foil  is  chiefly  of 
three  forts,  fand,  gravel,  and  clay ;  letts 
from  5  /.  to  20  /.  an  acre ;  and  farms  rife 
from  I  o  /.  to  50  /.  a  year.  Their  courfes 
are, 

1.  Fallow 

2.  Wheat 

3.  Barley 

4.  Oats. 


And, 


1.  Fallow 

2.  Barley 

3.  Wheat 

4.  Oats. 

H  4  Alfo, 


[     104    ] 

Alfo, 

1.  Turneps 

2.  Barley 

3.  Oats. 

They  plough  four  or  five  times  for 
wheat,  fow  three  bufhels  either  in  Septem- 
ber ^  October t  or  November ;  and  reap  at  an 
average  thirty  bufhels.  For  barley  they 
ftir  two  or  three  times,  fow  three  bufhels 
about  the  end  oi  April,  or  the  beginning  of 
May,  and  get  at  a  medium  four  quarters. 
They  give  but  one  ploughing  for  oats,  fow 
fix  bufliels  before  barley  fowing,  and  get 
ninety  bufliels  at  a  medium.  For  beans 
they  plough  but  once  after  barley,  fow  five 
or  fix  bulhels  before  oats,  never  hoe,  and 
get  on  good  land  fo  high  as  feventy  bufhels : 
They  ufe  them  for  horfes,  and  fome  the 
poor  grind  for  bread.  They  give  but  one 
fiirring  for  peafe,  fow  five  bufhels  about  the 
time  of  beans ;  and  as  to  crop,  fometimes 
they  get  thirty  bufhels,  and  at  others  not 
the  feed. 

They  fow  but  little  rye — the  culture  is  to 
plough  four  times,  fow  two  bufliels  and  a 
half,  and  the  crop  does  not,  upon  an  ave- 
rage^ exceed  35  buihels. 

Turneps 


[     '05    ] 

Turneps  are  not  much  cultivated ;  but 
they  plough  five  times  for  them,  hoe  them 
once,  the  average  value /'^r  acre  50  j.  and 
ufe  them  for  oxen  and  fheep. 

Clover  they  fow  with  barley ;  generally 
mow  it  twice  for  hay,  get  two  tons  and  a 
quarter,  and  fow  wheat  after  it. 

For  potatoes  they  plough  four  times, 
dung  the  land  at  the  rate  of  twelve  loads  of 
long  horfe  dung,  laying  it  in  the  furrows, 
and  the  dices  on  it;  twenty  bufhels  plant 
an  acre  in  rows,  one  foot  afunder  every 
way  :  They  hoe  them  twice,  and  reckon 
the  crop  in  general  from  200  to  240  bufhels. 
They  fow  wheat  or  barley  after  them;  but 
the  land  is  in  excellent  order  for  any  thing. 

Lime  is  their  principal  manure;  they 
lay  about  IQO  hufhds  per  acre  upon  every 
fallow,  which  coll:  about  20  s.  They  have 
fome  little  paring  and  burning. — No  fold- 
ing of  fheep.  They  flack  their  hay  both 
in  the  field  and  at  home.— No  chopping  of 
flubbles. 

Good  grafs  letts  at  20  s.  They  ufe  it 
both  for  fatting  and  milking,  and  reckoii 
that  an  acre  will  carry  a  cow  through  fum- 
xner,  or  five  flieep ;  but  they  are  tolerably 
careful  in  rqanuring  it„ 

Their 


[    io6    J 

Their  breed  of  cattle  is  between  the  long 
and  ihort  horns ;  the  oxen  fat  to  5  o  ftone  3  and 
they  reckon  the  produ<5l  of  a  cow  at  4/.  they 
reckon  that  each  makes  three  firkins  of  but- 
ter, and  gives  four  gallons  of  milk  a  day;  but 
nine  gallons  has  been  known.  They  keep 
very  few  fwine  to  their  cows,  fome  none 
at  all,  others  two,  three,  or  four,  to  twelve 
cows.  Their  winter  food  hay  and  ilraw, 
of  th^  firft  of  which  they  generally  eat  a 
ton.  The  calves  do  not  fuck  at  all  to  rear, 
but  for  the  butcher  a  month  or  five  weeks, 
A  dairy  maid  can  take  care  of  ten.  The 
winter  joift  30  j.  and  the  fummer  the  fame. 
They  keep  them  all  winter  in  the  houfe. 

Their  flocks  rife  from  20  to  500,  and 
they  calculate  the  profit  of  them  at  5  x.  a 
head.  Their  winter  and  fpring  food  the 
commons  alone  -,  and  the  weight  of  their 
fleeces  on  an  average  not  above  3  /6. 

They  reckon  four  oxen  and  four  horfes 
necelfary  for  the  culture  of  1 00  acres  of 
arable  land ;  ufe  two  of  each  in  a  plough, 
and  do  an  acre  a  day:  They  allow  each 
horfe  two  bufhels  of  oats  a  week  ;  and 
reckon  the  annual  e.xpence  of  keeping,  &c. 
at  10/.  The  fummer  joifl:  is  3/,  The 
winter  food  of  their  draught  oxen  is  hay  and 
flravy,  but  they  work  them  on  fl:raw  alone: 

They 


f     ^^7    ] 

They  reckon  oxen  much  the  beft  on  ftoney 
and  on  unlevel  ground;  but  on  other  land 
horfcs.  The  time  of  breaking  up  their 
ftubbles  for  a  fallow  is  at  Candlemas :  Their 
depth  of  ploughing  four  inches,  and  6  s» 
the  hire  per  acre.  That  of  a  cart  and  horfes 
is.6d. 

They  reckon  400/.  neceflary  for  the 
(locking  a  farm  of  100/.  a  year. 

Land  fells  at  from  30  to  40  years  pur* 
chafe.  Many  eftates  from  fmall  rents  to 
100/.  or  200/.  a  year. 

Poor  rates  i  s,  6  d.  in  the  pound.  The 
employment  fpinning  and  knitting,— Very 
few  drink  tea. 

The  farmers  carry  their  corn  nine  miles. 
The  general  ceconomy  of  the   country 
will  partly  appear  from  the  following  par- 
ticulars, 

130  acres  in  all 
60  arable 
£.60  rent 
3  horfes 
3  oxen 
9  cows 
2Q  young  cattle 
3  fatting  beafts 
100  Iheep 

I  man 


[    io8    ] 

I  man 
I  boy 

1  maid. 
Another, 

200  acres  in  all 
80  arable 
I20  grafs 
^.80  rent 
4  horfes 

4  oxen 
10  cows 

22  young  cattle 

5  fatting  beafls 
300  iheep 

2  men 

1  boy 

2  maids. 
Another, 

80  acres  in  all 
20  arable 
60  grafs 
^•35  rent 

3  horfes 
5  cows 

2  young  cattle 
20  fheep 
I  boy     . 
I  maid. 

LA- 


[      ID9     1 

LABOUR. 

In  harveft,  8  d,  and  board. 

In  hay  time,  6  d,  ditto. 

In  winter,  ditto. 

Thrafliing,  the  20th. 

Head-man's  wages,  10 /. 

Next  ditto,  6  /. 

Boy  of  ten  or  twelve  years,  20/. 

A  dairy  maid,  5  /. 

Other  maids,  4/. 

Women  per  day  in  harveft,  8  d,  and  board. 

In  hay  time,  6  d.  and  ditto. 

In  winter,  4  d.  and  ditto. 

IMPLEMENTS. 

No  waggons. 

A  one  horfe  cart,  3  /.  10/. 

A  plough,  25  i. 

A  harrow,  j  s.  6d, 

No  rollers. 

A  fcythe,  41.  td. 

A  fpade,   3  s. 

Laying  a  (hare  and  coulter,  6  </.  and  iron; 

Shoeing,  2  /. 

PRO- 


(    no    ] 

PROVISIONS,   &c. 

Bread-— barley  and  peafe  and  beans,  and 

oatmeal. 
Cheefe,  2d. 
Butter,  16  0^,   6(1. 
Beef,  3^* 
Mutton,   2  \d. 
Veal,  2d. 
Pork,   3  d. 
Milk,  \  pint,   new. 
Potatoes,    6  gallons*   8  d.. 
Candles,   6  d. 
Soap,   5  i  ^. 

Labourer's  houfe rent,   los.  to  20.;, 
--^ ^  firing,   I  o  J. 

BUILDING. 

Oak  timber,  i  /.  to  2  s.  6  d.  per  fobt. 

A(h,  ditto. 

Elm,  ditto. 

A  mafon  per  day,  i  s.  6d. 

A  carpenter,  i  s,  6  d. 

A  thatcher,  i  s.  and  board. 

Stone  walling  4/.  6^.  a  rood  building,  and 
from  I  s.  to  2  J.  6d,  cutting  j  the  com- 
mon height  feven  quarters. 

Some 


[  III  ] 

Some  moor  land  is  every  year  inclofcd 
and  improved  in  this  neighbourhood :  Their 
method  is  to  plough  it  up  in  winter,  to 
fallow  it  the  fucceeding  fummer,  and  lay 
90  or  I  GO  bufliels  of  lime  per  acre ;  they 
fow  rye  upon  it,  and  get  50  or  60  bufliels 
per  acre :  Then  a  fecond  crop  of  rye,  of 
35  or  40  bufhels:  Next  oats,  of  which 
they  have  60  or  70  bufhels ;  with  this  crop 
"ifome  throw  in  a  few  grafs  feeds,  but  the 
imofl  common  method  is  to  leave  it  to  turf 
itfelf.  They  pay  no  rent  of  fuch  land  for 
the  firft  feven  years,  but  \o  s.  an  acre  after- 
wards, for  2 1  years,  or  any  other  time. 

Some  pare  and  burn,  but  the  number 
very  few :  They  fow  rye  twice,  and  oats 
as  in  the  other  method  :  The  crops  of  corn 
are  better  in  the  paring  and  burning,  but 
they  reckon  the  fucceeding  grafs  not  fo 
good.  They  always  inclofe  before  this 
improvement,  as  it  is  called. 

Much  of  their  moory  foil  is  the  black 
rotten  molTy  land  >  but  fome  of  it  white 
land,  which  is  very  good.  The  boggy  parts 
they  cut  a  few  open  drains  through,  to  bet- 
ter the  herbage,  by  laying  it  a  little  dry, 
but  never  attempt  any  other  improvement. 
In  many  of  thefe  moors  the  foil  is  very 

deep^ 


[       112      ] 

deep,  but  in  fome  places  (hallow,  with  tnc 
rock  near  the  furface. 

From  Glenwelt  I  walked  about  half  a 
mile  to  view  feme  of  the  remnants  of  the 
famous  Roman  wall :  The  mod  perfedl  re- 
main of  it  is  on  the  edge  of  a  rocky  preci- 
pice, a  piece  about  five  feet  high,  and  feve- 
ral  yards  long ;  the  facing  is  of  regularly 
Cut  free  ftones,  but  I  meafured  none  q£ 
them  above  thirteen  inches  long  and  fevea' 
broad  ;  the  mortar  in  the  facing  is  quite 
gone,  but  much  of  it  remains  in  the  mid- 
dle, the  filling  up  5  very  little  of  it  is  of 
that  hard  nature  found  in  fome  ancient 
Duildings,  but  crumbles  with  eafe  between 
the  fingers.  The  flones  of  the  facing  are 
cut  very  regularly,  and  well  laid  -,  the  work- 
maniliip  undoubtedly  very  good.  Not 
far  from  this  wall  the  remains  of  an  earth 
entrenchment,  thrown  up  for  the  fame  pur- 
pofe,  are  feen  in  a  parallel  line  with  it. 

North  from  Gle?iwelt,  about  five  miles 
On  the  river  Arden^  is  a  natural  curiofity, 
very  well  worth  viewing :  It  is  a  very  fine 
rock  of  petrified  mofs.  A  dripping  ftream' 
falls  over  a  rock  hung  thick  with  mofs, 
which  petrifies,  and  is  taken  from  the  rock 
in  that  Hate  :  It  is  foft  at  firfl,  but  hardens 

upoit 


[     "3     ] 

boon  being  dry,  and  remains  in  ftonc  in  ii 
mofl  beautiful  pierced  form.  The  rock 
itfelf  is  extremely  beautiful,  and  hangs  over 
your  head  in  a  pidurcfque  grotto  ftile,  quite 
romantic. 

As  I  enter  Cumberland  to-morrow,  yoii 
rnuft  permit  me  to  conclude  this  letter  with 
a  few  remarks  on  the  hufbandry  in  general 
of  the  extenfive  county  of  Northumberland. 

The  farms  become  large  almoft  im- 
hiediately  on  entering  it,  after  the  fmall 
ones  of  Torkfljire  and  Durham)  and  rife  iii 
many  parts  of  it  to  be  as  great  as  any  in  the 
•kingdom,  if  not  the  greatcft ;  but  they  mufl 
be  divided  Into  two  clafTes,  thofe  which 
confift  of  cultivated  lands,  and  others  which 
are  chiefly  moor  farms. 

The  hufbandry  of  the  firfi  is  inucn  fupe- 
rior  to  that  of  the  two  preceding  counties; 
and  that  nbt  only  in  one  or  two  trifling  ar- 
ticles, but  in  many  very  important  ones. 
Manuring  is  carried  on  With  greater  fpirit; 
lime  is  ufed  iii  larger  quantities  \  and  they 
utiderftand  bettef  the  rhiinagetnerit  of  the 
farm-yard  manure.  —  Hoeing  of  turneps 
is  a  pregnant  inftance  j  I  found  it  coming 
into  practice  at  Gofwortht  and  all  hoed 
about  Morpeth.    The  potatoe  culture  is  car- 

VoL,  III;  I  rJcd 


[     IH     ] 

ried  on  upon  a  much  larger  fcale  :  And,  in 
fhort,  the  whole  management  better,  and 
more  fpirited. 

With  the  other  clafs,  this  is  not  the 
cafe  :  The  grand  article  of  their  agricul- 
ture is  the  improvement  of  moors  ;  and  a 
viler  or  more  flovenly  hufbandry  than  theirs, 
in  this  branch,  can  no  where  be  found. 
The  ploughing  up  waftes,  without  a  pre- 
vious inclofure,  and  breaking  up  the  deep- 
eft  foils,  without  paring  and  burning ;  — 
the  fowing  two,  three,  and  even  four  crops 
cf  corn  running,  upon  a  ploughing  up,  and 
liming ;  = —  the  leaving  the  exhaufted  foil 
to  turf  itfelf,  in  fome  places,  and  only 
fcattering  a  little  ray  grafs  in  others;  —  the 
keeping  8  and  10,000  fheep,  and  ne- 
ver folding:  —  iVU  thefe  are  ftrokes  of  bar- 
barifm,  which  tend  to  damp  and  even 
extinguifh  the  fpirit  of  improvement,  from 
the  infallible  want  of  fuccefs,  and  to  the 
leaving  a  country,  after  what  is  here  called 
improvement-  in  as  miferable  and  wafte  a 
ilate  as  before  it  was  begun. 

The  occupiers  of  large  farms,  who  arc 
confequentlymen  of  coniiderable  fubftance. 
are,  in  moil  parts-  of  'Englandy  the  greatefl 
of  all  improvers  \  Nature  takes  a  new  face 

under 


I 


[    >'S    ] 

Imder  their  hands  ;  whole  counties  drb 
converted  at  once  from  defarts,  into  finely 
tultivated  countries  :  But  here  we  meet 
with  no  improvements  that  deferve  the 
name  ;  nothing  lafting ;  three  or  four  to- 
lerable crops,  and  then  the  land  left  as  de- 
folate  as  ever,  in  the  trtte  fpirit  of  a  little 
louzy  farmer  of  20  /.  a  year.  Unworthy 
thofe  who  occupy  as  many  hundreds ! 

While  moors  are  thus  improved^  I  do  not 
inuch  wonder 'at  feeing  fo  much  wafte  land 
in  Northumberland :  But  furely  the  land- 
lords are  ftrangely  remifs,  in  not  introdu- 
cing   better    cuftoms ;    letting   no  tracks 
without  their  being  inclofed,  and  retrain- 
ing their  tenants  from  exhauiling  the  foil 
by  continued  crops ;  obliging  them^  ajt  the 
fame  time,  to  lay  it  down  to  grafs,  in   a 
given  manner :  But  this  muft  be  done  by 
pradifing   fuch   methods  thcmfelvesj  that 
the  fuccefs   may  juftify  the  propofal  :   If 
the  farmers  of  the  country  are,  neverthe- 
lefs,  backward  in  following  fuch  examples, 
men  of  large  eflates  can  well  afford  the 
importation  of  others,  from  counties  whofe 
cultivators  are  more  informed. 

It  is  very  melancholy  to  ride  through 
fuch  vaftly  exteniive  tracks  of  uncultivated 

I  2  good 


[   Ii<^  ] 

good  land,  as  are  found  in  every  part  of  this 
county  :  And  it  is  equally  unfortunate,  that 
fo  many  men  of  fubftance,  in  the  farming 
way,  fhould  tread  perpetually  in  the  beaten 
route,  and  hire  land,  in  fo  many  parts  of 
Bjitglandy  at  an  enormous  rent,  while  fuch 
quantities  are  to  be  had  almoft  for  nothing. 
This  is  truly  the  cultufque  habitufque  loco^ 
rum  prcedifcere. 

Gknwelt,  I  remain  yours,  ^c* 


LETTER 


[     '17    1 


LETTER     XVII. 

'pROM  Glenivelt  to  Brampton^  I  pafTed  - 
over  fome  moors  of  an  excellent  fandy 
loam,  and  yet  quite  uncultivated.     The  in- 
clofed  lands  are  good,  lett  from  los.  to  z^s. 
per  acre,  farms  from  lo/.  to  loo/. 

At  Carlijle  is  a  confiderable  ftampery  of 
printed  cottons,  eftablifhed  by  fome  ma- 
nufadurers  from  Newcajilt",  the  labourers 
in  it  earn  from  ij-.  to  3  J.  a  day.  Alfo  a 
manufacture  of  checks,  which  employs 
many  looms;  the  earnings  from  is.  to 
I  J".  3  J.  a  day. 

Three  miles  to  the  fouth  o^  Carlijle,  land 
letts  about  1 5  j.  an  acre  at  an  average. 
Farms  from  20/.  to  200/.  a  year.  In 
as  many  more,  they  are  not  fo  large,  from 
30/.  to  120/.  and  rents  from  2J-.  to  20  j. 
an  acre. 

About  High  A/cot  the  foil  varies  from  a 
light  loam  and  gravel  to  a  clay,  letts  from 
{O  J-.  to  20  J-,  an  acre. 

Farms  from  10  /.  to  100  /,  a  year. 

I  3  The 


i  "8  3 

The  courfes  are, 

1.  Fallow 

2.  Wheat 

3.  Oats 

4.  Peafe, 
And, 

1.  Turneps 

2.  Barley 

3.  Clover  for  three  years. 

For  wheat  they  plough  three  or  four 
times,  fow  three  bufliels  and  reap  about 
twenty,  For  barley  they  plough  twice, 
fow  three  bufhels,  and  reckon  the  average 
produce  the  fame  as  of  wheat.  They  ftir 
but  once  for  oats,  fow  feven  bufliels  and  afi 
half,  and  gain  fifty  in  return.  For  peafe 
they  likewife  plough  but  once,  fow  three 
bufliels.  and  gain  at  a  medium  fifteen. 
They  ftir  twice  or  thrice  for  rye,  fow  three 
bufliels,  generally  in  February  or  Marcbt 
(a  very  remarkable  time,)  and  reap  twenty. 
They  cultivate  fome  few  turneps ;  plough 
throe  or  four  times  for  them;  a  few 
farmers  hoe  them :  The  medium  value 
they  reckon  at  50  j.  ah  acr^ ;  and  ufe  them 
for  cattle  and  flieep.  Clover  they  ibw 
with  barley  or  oats,  generally  mow  it  for 
hay,  and  get  about  a  ton  at  a  mowing. 

For 


[     1^9     ] 

For  potatoes  they  plough  thrice,  give 
the  land  a  good  coat  of  dung  ;  chufe  the 
dryeft  foils  for  them ;  and  lay  the  dices  in 
every  other  furrow,  one  foot  from  plant  to 
plant.  On  coming  up  they  plough  be- 
tween the  rows,  to  deftroy  the  weeds  ;  a 
pra6tice  one  would  fuppofe  fufficient  to  in- 
troduce a  good  turnep  culture  univerfally ; 
for  thofe  who  fee  the  cfFeds  of  this  opera- 
tion on  potatoes  might  furely  extend  the 
idea  to  turneps. — They  get  300  bufhels 
per  acre,  and  fow  rye  after  them. 

Good  grafs  letts  at  20  s.  an  acrcj  they 
apply  it  chiefly  to  dairying,  and  reckon  that 
an  acre  and  half  will  feed  a  cow  through 
the  fummer ;  and  an  acre  carry  four  iheep  : 
Very  few  of  them  manure  their  grafs. 
Their  breed  of  cattle  is  the  long  horned, 
which  they  account  much  the  heft.  Their 
beafts  they  fatten  to  about  forty  ftone. 

The  produd  of  a  cow  they  reckon  at  50  s, 
or  3/.  that  a  middUng  one  will  give 
ffom  two  to  four  gallons  of  milk  a  day, 
and  make  from  four  to  ftven  pounds  oi 
butter  a  week.  They  have  no  notion  of 
keeping  hogs  in  confequence  of  cows ;  a 
dairy  of  twenty  not  maintaining  above  one 
cr  two.  The  winter  food  of  their  cows  is 
I  ^  ftraw 


[       I20      ] 

ftraw  or  hay,  a  ton  and  half  of  which  is  the 
quantity  they  commonly  fuppofe  a  cow  tq 
eat  in  the  winter;  but  if  clover  hay  is  ufed, 
one  ton  is  enough. — The  fummer  joift  is 
25  J.  and  that  of  winter  30  j.  and  35  j. 
They  reckon  ten  cows  the  bufinefs  of  a 
dairy  maid. 

Their  fiocks  of  fheep  rife  from  20  to  1 20, 
and  the  profit  they  reckon  at  6  s.  a  head ; 
lamb  5  J.  and  wool  i  s.  They  keep  thern 
the  year  round  on  the  commons : — The 
average  weight  of  fleeces  4/^. 

In  the  management  of  their  arable  lands 
they  reckon  fix  horfes  neceflary  for  100 
acres  of  arable ;  they  ufe  two  in  a  plough, 
and  do  an  acre  a  day.  The  annual  expence 
of  keeping  horfes  they  reckon  at  5  /.  i  o  j. 
or  6  /.  The  joiH:  in  fummer  40  s.  in  win- 
ter 50 J-.  They  break  up  their  ftubbles  for 
a  fallow  in  February-,  plough  fix  inches 
deep:  The  price  of  ploughing  ^s.  an  acre  j 
and  of  a  cart  and  horfe  and  driver  2  j".  or 
3  J-.  a  day.  They  know  nothing  of  cutting 
ft  raw  for  chaff. 

Three  hundred  pounds  they  reckon  ne- 
cefiary  for  a  man  to  flock  a  farm  of  1 00  /. 
a  ycaro 

Tythesi 


I  >2'  ] 

Tyt'hes  are  generally  gathered.  Poor 
fates  6  d.  in  the  pound  ;  the  employment 
of  the  women  and  criildren  fpinning  an4 
knitting. 

The  farmers  carry  their  corn  nine  miles. 
The  general  oeconomy  will  appear  from 
the  following  fketches  of  farms. 
I  GO  acres  in  all 
60  arable 
40  grafs 

4  horfes 

6  cows 

I  fatting  bead 
I  o  young  cattle 
80  fheep 

I  man 

I  boy 

1  maid. 
Another, 

1 40  acres  in  all 
86  arable 

54  gi'afs 
X- 9  5  rent 

7  horfes 
J  2  cows 

2  fatting  beafts 
22  young  cattle 

30  fheep 


[122      ] 

30  fheep 

1  man 

2  boys 
I  maid 

1  labourer. 
Another, 

125  acres  In  all 
5  5  arable 
70  grafs 
£•70  rent 
4  horfes 
9  cows 
26  young  cattle 

2  fatting  beafts 
50  fheep 

I  man 
1  boy 
I  maid 
I  labourer. 
Another, 

80  acres  in  all 
40  grafs 
40  arable 
£.yo  rent 
5  cows 

I  fatting  beafl: 
1 3  young  cattle 
30  fheep 

I  n\^n 


[ 

123 

] 

I  man 

I  maid 

I  boy. 
Another, 

50  acres  in  all 

20  arable 

30  grafs 

>C- 35  rent 

3  cows 

I  fatting 

beaft 

2  young 

cattle 

20  fheep 

I  boy. 

LABOUR. 

In  harveft,  4^.  a  week,  and  board. 

In  hay  time,  i  j.  a  day,  and  board. 

In  winter,  8  d.  and  ditto* 

Mowiog  grafs,  2  s.  an  acre. 

Ditching,  3'  d,  to  8  ^.  a  rood. 

Head  man's  wages,  10/.  to  12/. 

Next  ditto,  7/.  to  7  /.  7  s. 

Boy  of  ten  or  twelve  years,  25/. 

Dairy  maids,  2/.  ioj*.  to  3/. 

Other  ditto,  2  /.  5  j-.  to  2  /.  i  o  j-. 

Women   in   harveft,    4/,    a    week,    and 

board. 
Jn  hay  time,  8  d.  and  board  a  day. 

I  M  P  L  E- 


[     124     J 

I  M  P  L  E  M  E  N  T  S,  ^c- 

No  waggons. 

A  cart,  (one  horfe)  3  /.  to  5  /. 

A  plough,   I  /.  lis.  td, 

A  harrow,   i/.  10  j. 

No  rollers. 

A  fcythe,  3  j.  6  d. 

A  fpade,  zs,  6  d. 

Shoeing,  2  j-^ 

P  R  O  V  I  S  I  O  N  S,  G?^. 

Bread— barley,  and  barley  and  rye,  I  d* 

Cheefe,  2d. 

Butter,  6d^ 

Beef,  3  d. 

Mutton,  2  d. 

Veal,  z\d. 

Pork,  4  d^ 

Milk,  \  d.  per  pint. 

Potatoes,  ^d. 

Candles,  yd. 

Soap,  7  d. 

Labourer's  houfe-rent,  10  s,  to  20  s. 

BUILDING. 

Oak  timber,  8  ^.   to  2  i". 
$s.{h,  1  s.  6d. 

Mafon 


f      125      ] 

Mafon  I  s.  per  day,  and  board. 
Carpenter,  ditto. 

Slate  at  the  quarry,         -  o   i6f.  o 

Laying,  -  -         o   13      o 

Leading  eight  miles,  140 

Total  per  rood,  213      o 

Stone  walls,  6  d.  z  yard  workmanfhip,  and 
IJ-.  6d.  every  thing  except  lime. 

AhoMt  Penrith  there  are  variations,  which 
deferve  noting— The  foil  is  of  divers  forts, 
clay,  fand,  gravel,  loam,  and  black  moory 
earth.  The  medium  rent  of  that  inclofed  is 
1 5  J",  the  uninclofed,  z  s,  6  d.  and  3  j.  t  d. 

Farms  rife  from  10/.  a  year,  fo  high  as 
700/.  but  in  general  from  80/.  to  150/,! 
Their  courfes  are> 

1.  TurnepS 

2.  Barley 

3.  Clover 

4.  Wheat 

5.  Oats. 

Another, 

1.  Oats  on  the  grafs  broke  up. 

2.  Barley 

3.  Oats 

4.  Oats 

5*  Peafe 


[       126      ] 

5-  Peafe 
6.  Barley. 
This  is  capital  indeed!  but  vefy  coril- 
tnon;  for  much  land,  even  within  two  or 
three  miles  of  Pefirii/b,  hath  been  fbwn 
every  year  with  either  barley,  oats,  or  peafe, 
for  thefe  feventy  years.  This  information 
aftonifhed  me ;  I  inquired  the  produce  on 
fuch  land>  and  found  it  reckoned  as  goodj 
upon  the  whole,  as  other  foils,  managed 
upon  more  modern  principles ;  five  or  fix 
for  one  of  oats,  and  when  wheat  happens 
to  be  fow^n,  ten  or  eleven  for  one.  Fal- 
lowing is  a  fiew  fajhion,  and  not  perfed:ly 
relifhed  by  the  farmers  yet. 

In  a  common  way  they  generally  plough 
for  wheat  from  three  to  (ix  times,  fow  two 
buihels  about  Michaelmas^  and  gain,  upon 
an  average,  about  three  quarters.  For  bailey 
they  plough  from  on.ce  to  thrice,  fow  two 
bufhel?  and  a  half  in  April  or  May^  and 
gain  about  25.  Sometimes  barley  is  fown 
en  new  broke  up  land,  and  the  produce  c^o 
bufliels.  They  give  but  one  llining  for 
oats,  fow  four  bufkels  before  bai-iey  fowing^ 
and  get  28  in  return.  For  peafe  they  give 
but  one  earth,  fow  two  bufhels,  and  get  in 
return  about   16;  generally  ufe    the  grey 

roun- 


[      127      1 

rounclvals.  They  give  from  three  to  five 
ploughings  for  rye,  fow  two  bufhels,  the 
crop  about  24. 

For  turneps  they  give  three  or  four 
earths,  never  hoe,  and  reckon  the  average 
value  per  acre  at  50  s.  ufe  them  for  fheep, 
and  fatting  of  beafts.  Clover  they  fow 
with  either  barley  or  oats,  generally  mow 
it  once,  (three  times  have  been  known,) 
and  get  two  ton  of  hay  per  mowing. 

They  prepare  for  potatoes  by  ploughing 
twice  or  thrice  ;  dung  the  land  with  long 
horfe  dung  j  lay  the  fetts  in  every  other 
furrow,  ten  inches  afunder,  and  hand-hoe 
between  them  if  weedy;  fometimes  they 
horfe-hoe  them :  If  the  land  is  defigned 
for  wheat,  they  lime  it  about  Midfiimmer, 
while  the  potatoes  are  growing.  The  crops 
rife  to  200  hviihch  per  acre,  but  the  ave- 
rage about  1 20 ;  price  about  2  j.  a  bufhel. 

Lime  is  their  principal  manure,  though 
but  of  a  few  years  flanding  :  They  lay  90 
bufhels  per  acre  on  their  arable  lands ; 
cofts  them  from  i  \  d.  to  3.  d.  per  bufhel, 
befides  leading  i  they  lay  it  on  every  fal- 
low :  They  likewife  ufe  it  on  their  mea- 
dows, and  find  it  to  anfwer  well.  But  dung 
they  reckon  much  better  for  every  thing- 

They 


[     '^8    ] 

irhey  pare  and  burn  a  little,  at  the  expence 
of  24  J.  an  acre.  No  folding  fheep,  noir 
chopping  ftubbles.  Stack  their  hay  in 
buildings. 

Good  grafs  letts  from  15J.  to  20  s.  an 
acre :  They  ufe  it  both  for  dairying  and 
fatting  hearts;  reckon  that  an  acre  will 
fummer  feed  a  cow,  or  feed  five  flieep. 
Their  breed  of  cattle  the  long  horned, 
which  they  think  much  the  beft;  their 
oxen  they  fat  to  about  40  ftorie. 

The  produdl  of  a  cow  they  calculate  at 
4/.  JOS.  and  generally  have  two  firkins  of 
butter  from  eath  :  the  medium  quantity 
per  week  about  7  /L  but  fometimes  14  /^. 
per  cow.  They  keep  but  few  fv^ine  in 
proportion  to  their  dairies,  not  above  two 
to  ten  cows.  The  v/inter  food  is  ftraw 
and  hay  ;  of  the  latter  about  a  ton  a  head. 
They  reckon  a  dairy  maid  can  manage  ten. 
cows.  25  or  30  J.  the  fummer  joift.  In 
winter  they  keep  them  all  in  the  houfe. 

They  reckon  3  /.  the  profit  on  fumme'r 
fatting  a  beafl  of  fifty  florie.  Swine  fat  fromi 
50/.  to  4/.  4J-.  a  head. 

Their  flocks  ofdiccp  vary  greatly  ;  from 
40  to  3000  :  The  profit  they  reckon  5  s. 
feaeh;    that  is,    lamb  41.   and   wool   is. 

They 


[       129       ] 

They  feed  them  both  winter  and  fpring 
on  the  commons.  The  average  of  the 
fleeces  3//^. 

They  reckon  fix  horfes  neceflary  for  the 
management  of  100  acres  of  arable  land; 
ufe  two  or  four  in  a  plough,  as  the  foil  isj 
and  do  three  acres  in  two  days.  They  ac- 
count the  expence  of  keeping  a  horfe  at 
6  /.  a  year.     The  fummer  joift  2  /.  2s. 

They  do  not  begin  to  fallow  till  after  the 
barley  fowing.  The  price  per  acre  of 
ploughing  5^.  and  5  j-.  6  d,  and  the  com- 
mon depth  four  inches. 

They  know  nothing  of  cutting  ftraw  for 
chaff.  The  hire  of  a  one  horfe  cart  zs.  6d. 
a  day. 

Three  hundred  pounds  they  affert  is  a 
fum  fufficient  for  flocking  a  farm  of  100  A 
a  year. 

Land  fells  in  general  at  about  thirty 
years  purchafe. 

Tythes  in  general  gathered. 

Poor  rates  at  Penrith    is.   3  ^.   in   tlie 

pound.     In  the  country  parifhes  td.  and 

upwards,  biit  in  fome  nothing  at  all.    The 

employment  of  the  v/omen   and  children 

fpinning,  and  fome  knitting  :  All  drink  tea. 

Many  eflates  from  40  /.  to  200/.  a  year. 

VoL.  IIL  K  The 


[     13°     ] 
The  corn  is  generally  brought  to  Pen^ 
rithi  and  fent  to  Kendal  by  carriers. 

The  following  are  particulars  of  feveral 
farms. 

2000  acres,  all  grafs 
^.  200  rent 

5  horfes 
20  cows 

40  young  cattle 
2000  fheep 
I  man 

1  boy 

2  maids 

4  labourers. 
Another, 

100  acres  in  all 
40  arable 
60  grafs 
iC- 75  rent 

6  horfes 
10  cows 

4  fatting  hearts 
24  young  cattle 
100  fheep 
I  man 
I  maid 
I  boy 
I  labourer. 

Another, 


[    ^31 

Another, 

240  acres  in  all 

120  arable 

120  grafs 

jf.  100  rent 

8  horfes 

12  cows 

8  fatting  hearts 

30  young  cattle 

200  fheep 

I  man 

I  boy 

2  maids 

2  labourers. 

Another, 

80  acres  in  all 

60  grafs 

20  arable 

^.55  rent 

3  horfes 

4  cows 

1 0  young  cattle 

I  boy 

I  maido 

LABOUR, 

in  harveft,  i  s,  6d.  and  beer. 
In  hay-time,  is,  3^,  and  ditto. 

K  2  in 


[     .1^2     .] 

In  winter,  I0(^.  and  ditto. 

Reaping  corn,  3  s.  to  5  s. 

Mowing  grafs,  is.  to  2 s.  6 d. 

Ditching,  Sa'.  a  rood. 

Threfhing  wheat,  2^.  to  2ld. 

——  —  barley,  if<^. 

— — — oats,  I  id. 

Head  man  s  wages,  1 2  /.  to  14/. 

Next  ditto,  9  /. 

Boy  of  ten  or  twelve  years,  3  /. 

Dairy  maid,  to  6  /. 

Other  maids,   3  /.  to  4  /. 

Women  per  day,  in  harvefl,  10^.  and  beer. 

In  hay-time,  8  d.  and  ditto. 

In  winter,  6  d.  and  ditto. 

IMPLEMENTS,     &c. 

No  waggons. 

A  cart,  4/. 

A  plough,  i/.  IIJ-.  6d. 

A  harrow,  i6j-. 

A  roller,    loj-.  6d. 

A  fey  the,  2  s.  6  d.  to  4.  s. 

A  fpade,   2  s.  6  d.  to  3  /.  6  d. 

For  ploughs,   the  farmers  find  their  own 

iron. 
Shoeing.  2s. 

PRO- 


..*■ 


t  133  ] 

P  R  O  V  I  S  I  O  N  S,  G?^. 

Bread — oats,  and  barley  and  rye  mixed; 

coft  I  ^.  id.  and  i  d, per  lb, 
Cheefe,  2d, 
Butter,  b  d,  18  0%. 
Beef,  2\d. 
Mutton,  2  \d. 
Veal,  2  d. 
Pork,  3  d. 

Milk,  I  d.  three  pints  fkimmed. 
Potatoes,   3  d. 
Candles,  7  d. 
Soap,  7  ^. 

Labourer's  houfe  rent,  20  J. 
— — —Firing,  30  J". 

BUILDING. 

Bricks,   1 1  s.  -per  thoufand. 

Slate,  I  s.  6d.  per  hundred— It  is  at  quarry, 

per  rood,         -  -  o  12s,  o 

Leading  four  miles,         -  0120 

Laying  on,  -  -       o  12     o 

£.  I    16   ^ 

Stone  walls,  6  ^.  a  yard  work ;  and  getting 

and  leading,  \  s.2>  d. 
Oak,  Q  d,  io  'IS, 

'^         K  3  Afh, 


[    '34    ] 

A{h,  6d.  to  2  J. 

Elm,  ditto. 

A  mafon  is.  S  d.  per  day. 

Carpenter,  i  s»  S  d, 

Thatcher,  is,  6 d. 

Kefwick  had  too  long  been  an  object  of 
defire  with  me  to  neglect  the  opportunity 
of  feeing  it :  I  went  thither  from  Penrith  : 
But  before  I  attempt  any  thing  of  a  de- 
fcription,  let  me  mention  matters  of  huf- 
bandry.  The  country  between  thefe  towns 
is  various,  much  of  it  moors,  and  quite 
uncultivated,  though  evidently  capable  of 
it,  which  is  melancholy  to  refled:  on. 
About  Kefwicky  the  hufbandry  is  as  fol- 
lows: 

The  foil  is  both  a  hazel  mould,  fand, 
gravel,  and  moory;  the  firfl  but  {hallow: 
The  inclofed  letts  from  20  j.  to  30  j.  a 
2[ight  of  comrnonage  included. 

Farms,  from  10/.  to  80/.  a  year. 

Their  courfe, 

1 .  Oats  on  turf 

2.  Fallow 

3.  Barley 

4.  Wheat 

5.  Oats,  and  graffes. 

They 


f     '35     ] 

They  plough  twice  for  wheat,  fow  two 
bufhels  and  an  half,  about  Michaelmas,  and 
reap  35  to  40,  upon  an  average.  They 
alfo  ftir  twice  for  barley,  fow  fix  bufhels 
in  April  or  May,  and  reap  40  in  return. 
For  oats  they  ftir  but  once,  fow  feven 
bufhels,  and  gain  50.  They  have  no  beans, 
very  few  peafe,  and  as  little  rye.  They 
flir  three  times  for  turneps,  hoe  them  once 
or  twice;  the  average  value  about  55  j. 
ufe  them  for  feeding  fheep  and  ftall-fatting 
oxen.  They  know  but  little  of  clover; 
one  or  two  farmers  have  tried  it  with  bar- 
ley, but  found  it  good  for  nothing  :  It 
muft  have  been  upon  ftrange  land. 

They  have  two  ways  of  cultivating  po- 
tatoes, by  ploughing  and  digging  :  In  the 
firft,  they  flir  three  times,  and  dung  the 
land  well,  lay  the  flices  in  every  other 
furrow,  one  foot  afunder,  and  plough  be- 
tween them  once  while  growing,  befides 
hand-weeding :  They  plough  them  up, 
and  get  2,  3,  and  400  bufhels /^r  acre. 

Their  other  way  is  the  lazy-bed  me- 
thod; they  lay  the  dung  on  the  green 
fward,  the  flices  on  that,  then  they  dig 
trenches,  and  with  the  earth  cover  the 
K  4  fetts. 


[    '36    ] 

{tits,  but  they  reckon  ploughing  a  better 
way. 

Good  grafs  land  letts  at  30  s.  an  acre ; 
ufe  it  moftly  for  dairyings  an  acre  and  half 
they  reckon  fufficient  for  a  cow,  and  an 
acre  for  four  fheep  :  Manuring  it  is  com- 
mon. Their  breed  of  cattle  is  the  long 
horned,  and  they  reckon  them  beft :  Fat 
their  oxen  to  fifty  ftone;  their  fwinc  to 
twenty-four,  or  thirty. 

The  produdt  of  a  cow  they  reckon  at 
3/.  I3J-.  6d.  and  fix  gallons  per  day  a 
common  quantity  of  milk  per  cow :  Do 
not  keep  above  one  hog  to  ten.  The 
winter  food,  ftraw  and  hay;  of  the  lat- 
ter they  eat  about  two  ton.  The  fummer 
joift  is  35  J-.  In  winter  they  are  kept  in 
the  houfe  :  Their  calves  fuck  about  two 
months. 

Their  flocks  rife  from  100  to  1000 ;  the 
pro^t  they  reckon  at  4J-.  3  ^.  a  head ;  that 
is,  lamb  3X.  and  wool  is.  3^.  fometimes; 
5  j-.  They  keep  them,  in  both  winter  and 
fpring,  on  the  commons.  The  average 
weight  of  the  fleeces,  4  /^. 

In  their  tillage,  they  reckon  that  twelve 
horfes  are  necefl^ary  for  the  management  of 
100  acres  of  arable  land  :  They  ufe  fome- 

times 


[  U7  ] 
time«  four,  and  fometimes  two  in  a  plough, 
and  do  an  acre  a  day  with  them.  The 
annual  expence  of  keeping  a  horfe  they 
reckon  at  6  /.  los.  the  fummer  joift 
2  /.  2.  s. 

The  price  of  ploughing,  per  acre,  is 
from  5  J.  to  6  s.  and  March  the  time  of 
breaking  up  for  a  fallow.  The  hire  of  a 
cart  and  horfe  3  i".  a  day. 

In  the  hiring  and  flocking  of  farms,  they 
reckon  360/.  or  400  /.  necelTary  for  one  of 
80  /.  a  year. 

Land  fells  at  from  35  to  40  years  pur- 
chafe. 

Poor  rates  9  d.  in  the  pound. — The 
employment  of  the  women  and  children, 
fpinning,  and  winding  yarn. 

No  fmail  eftaies. 

The  following  particulars  of  farms  will 
(hew  their  general  oeconomy. 
1 00  acres  in  all 
90  arable 
10  grafs 

8  horfea 
I  o  cows 
4  fatting  hearts 

2p  young  cattle 

4r:;  Hieep 


f  138  ] 

400  iheep  (common  right) 
I  man 
1  maid 
I  boy 
1  labourer. 
Another, 

220  acres  in  all 
100  grafs 
I  20  arable 
£.  80  rent 
12  horfes 
22  cows 
30  young  cattle 
5  fatting  beafts 
400  Iheep   (right  of  common) 

1  man 

2  maids 

2  boys 

3  labourers. 
Another, 

130  acres  in  all 
50  arable 
80  grafs 
£-95  rent 
6  horfes 
1 2  cows 
I  8  young  cattle 
200iLeep   (right  of  common) 

I  man 


[     139    ] 
I  man 

I  mai4 
I  boy. 
Another, 

70  acres  in  all 
20  arable 
50  grafs 
^.50  rent 
4  horfes 
8  cows 

2  fatting  beafts 
200  fheep  (common  right) 
I  boy 
I  maid. 

LABOUR. 

In  harveft,  is.  and  beer. 

In  hay  time,  ditto. 

In  winter,  6d.  and  board. 

Reaping  wheat,  6  s. 

Mowing  grafs,  2  s. 

Ditching,  4  <^.  to  5  d.  per  rood. 

Firft  man's  wages,  10/.  to  11/. 

Next  ditto,  6  /. 

Boy  often  or  twelve  years,  3/.  to  3/.  10^. 

Dairy  maid,  4/.  14  j.  6d, 

Other  ditto,  3  /.  3  ,f. 

Women  per  day  in  harveft;,  i  J.  and  beer. 

In 


[     140    ] 
In  hay  time,  ditto. 
In  winter,  6  d.  and  beer. 

IMPLEMENTS, 

No  waggons. 

A  cart  for  two  horfes,  7  /. 

A  plough,  I  /,  ^  s. 

A  harrow,  10/. 

A  roller,  14  j. 

A  fcythe,  3  j.  to  5  s, 

A  fpade,  2  j.  Sd, 

Shoeing,   2  s. 

PROVISIONS,   &c. 

Bread — oat  and  barley,  I  d.  per  lb, 
Cheefe,  2d, 

Butter,  t  d,  id  Xo  \%  oz. 
Beef,   id. 

Mutton,   2\d,  . 

Veal,  2  d. 
Pork,   3  d. 
Milk,  I  pint. 
Potatoes,  2\d,  a  peck. 
Candles,   7  d. 
Soap,   6  d. 

Labourer's  houfe  rent,   20  s, 
■>  firing,  25  J.  but  many  on  hedge- 

breaking  alone. 

BUILD^ 


[     HI     ] 

BUILDING. 

Oak,   IS.   2>d.  to  2  J.  6d, 

Afh,   IS.  6d,  to  2 s, 

Mafon  per  day,  i  i.  6  d* 

Carpenter,   ditto. 

Slate,  28  J.  a  rood,  getting  and  laying. 

Now,  Sir,  for  the  glory  of  i^^/<:>^,— 
its  Lake,  (o  famous  all  over  England.  Let 
me  firft  inform  you,  that  it  is  by  compu^ 
tation  ten  miles  round,  of  an  oblong  figure, 
and  inclofed  by  a  prodigious  range  of  for- 
midable mountains,  of  fuch  a  height  that 
they  are  cloud- topped  for  feveral  months 
in  the  year.  The  befl  way  of  viewing  it  is 
to  row  round  the  lake,  and  land  now  and 
then  for  catching  the  varieties  of  the  prof- 
pedl. 

You  walk  from  the  town  firft  down  to 
CockJhut'M/'^,  a  fmall  rifing  ground,  with- 
in the  amphitheatre  of  mountains,  and  has 
been  lately  planted.  The  view  of  the  lake 
from  hence  is  very  beautiful :  You  have  a 
moft  elegant  fheet  of  water  at  your  feet,  of  the 


*  I  (hould  apologize  for  many  barbarous,  and, 
probably,  wrong  fpelt  names,  for  they  are  taken  from 
the  people  at  Kefwidc  I  have  no  where  met  with 
them  in  printi 

fineft 


[       142      ] 

finefl:  colour  imaginable,  fpotted  with  iflandsj 
of  which  you  fee  five,  and  are  high  enough 
to  command  the  water  around  them.  One 
is  in  the  middle,  of  about  five  acres  of  grafs 
land,  with  a  houfe  under  a  clump  of  trees 
on  one  fide  of  it ;  the  whole  objed:  beauti- 
fully pidlurefque :  You  look  alfo  upon  ano- 
ther planted  with  Scotch  firs;  and  alfo 
upon  three  others  more  diftant.  This  is 
the  view  of  the  floor  of  this  noble  amphi- 
theatre ',  the  walls  are  in  different  flile— 
fublime.  To  the  left  you  look  firfl  on  a 
hilly  rock,  partly  covered  with  fhrubby 
wood ;  and  further  on,  upon  a  chain  of  tre- 
mendous rocks,  near  400  yards  high;  their 
feet  are  fpread  with  hanging  woods,  but 
their  heads  bare,  broken,  and  irregular. 
Following  the  line  the  lake  feems  to  lofe 
itfelf  among  a  wood  of  rocks  and  moun- 
tains, the  tops  rifing  one  above  another  in 
the  wildefl  manner  imaginable :  The  op- 
pofite  fhore  prefents  you  a  full  view  of  a 
vafl  range  of  hills ;  and  behind,  you  look 
upon  the  prince  of  the  furrounding  moun- 
tains, Skiddow,  whofe  tremendous  head 
rears  above  the  clouds. 

Leaving   this   hill   you  v/alk   down  to 
your  boat,  and  are  flruck  with  the  limpid 

tranjp- 


r  143  ] 

(ranfparency  of  the  water,  which  almofi 
exceeds  belief;  the  bottom  is  quite  paved 
with  ftones,  and  the  white  ones  glitter 
through  the  trep.mlous  curl  of  the  furfacc 
like  fo  many  diamonds.  You  row  to  the 
left  pafs,  a  variety  of  fhore,  here  rocky  and 
projecting,  there  low  and  retiring,  coail:  a 
planted  illand,  and  coming  under  Wallow 
Crag,  one  of  the  immenfe  rocks  before 
mentioned,  you  have  from  its  foot  a  very 
fine  view :  The  furrounding  rocks  and 
mountains  are  iruly  noble ;  the  crag  above 
you,  fringed  about  a  third  of  its  height  with 
pendent  woods;  the  lake  at  your  feet 
breaks  beautifully  into  a  bay  behind  a  pro- 
montory, called  Stable-hills ;  againfl  it  is 
Brampfiolm  IJland^ ;  and  over  the  low 
part  of  the  promontory  you  catch  the  wood 
on  Lord's  IJland,  in  a  very  pleafing  manner. 
The  oppofite  fhore  is  beautifully  fcattered 
with  hanging  woods,  and  fome  white 
houfes  give  a  livelinefs  to  the  view  truly 
pleafing. 

Taking  your  boat  again,  and  rowing 
till  you  are  oppofite  the  opening  between 
Wallow  and  Barrow  Cra^rs,  the  noife  of  a 


*  Belonging  to  Greenwich  Hofpical. 

water- 


f     H4     ] 

water-fall  unfeen,  will  .induce  you  to  land 
again ;     walking    on    to    a   little    ruinous 
bridge,  you    look   upon   a  romantic  hol- 
low of  rocks   and   woods,   with  a  ftream 
pouring  down  the  clefts  in  many  {heets^ 
and  feen   among   the    trees  in  the   moft 
pidturefque  manner;   a  romantic  fcene  of 
rock,  and  wood  and  water  thirty  feet  high. 
Rowing    from    hence,    under  Barrow 
Crag,    the  iliore  is   rocky,    and  various : 
Faffing  fome  low  ground,  and  landing  on 
a  riling  one,  the  view   is  exquifite.    The 
water  breaks  in  the  mod  beautiful  man- 
lier  imaginable,    into    bays     and    flieetSj 
ftretching  away  from  the  eye  mod  glori- 
oufly,    between    the   Stable  Hills ,  Lord's 
IJlandy    and    Vicars  IJlajid :    BrampJJjolm 
cuts   in   the   middle  j   and  St,  Albaiis  IJle 
prefents  his  broad  fide  to  your  full  view. 
At  the  other  end  of  the  lake,  the   riling 
hills,  part  of  cultivated,  waving  inclofures, 
and  part  of  hanging  woods,  all  fcattered 
with  white  houfes,  and  the  whole  crown- 
ed with  the  lofty  mountains,  are  beauti- 
fully pidturefque,  and  contrail  Unely  with 
the  view  of  the   fouth  end  of  the  lake> 
around  which  the  rocks  and  mountains  are 

tre- 


[     HS     3 

tremendouQy  bold,   pendent,   and  threat- 
ening. 

Following  the  coaft,  the  fhore  is  thinly 
fringed  with  wood ;  then  you  row  around 
a  projeding  land,  containing  feveral  inclo- 
fures,  and  come  under  a  fine,  thick,  hang- 
ing wood,  with  a  raging  torrent  breaking 
through  it,  over  rocks,  juft  feen  between 
the  wood  and  Barrow-fide^  but  heard  in  the 
mofl  romantic  manner. — You  next  anchor 
in  a  bay,  the  environs  of  which  are  dread- 
ful ;  you  are  under  a  monftrous  craggy  rock, 
(Throng  Crag,)  fcattered  with  fhrubby 
wood  to  the  very  edge,  and  almoft  perpen- 
dicular i  and  moving  the  eye  from  the  for- 
midable objedt,  you  find  this  end  of  the 
lake  furrounded  with  a  chain  of  them,  in 
the  boldeft  and  abruptefl  ftile  imaginable. 
The  oppofite  fhore  of  mountains  very 
?:reat :  and  noife  of  diftant  water- falls  heard 

o 

Inoft  gloriouily. 

From  hence  yoii  coaft  a  dreadful  fhore 
of  fragments,  which  time  has  broken  from 
the  towering  rocks,  many  of  them  of  a 
terrible  fize  ;  fome  flopped  on  the  land  by 
larger  than  themferves,  and  others  rolled 
into  the  lake,  through  a  path  of  defola- 
tion,  fweeping  trees,  hillocks,    and  every 

Vol.  III.  L  thing 


[     146    ] 

.iiiiig  to  the  water;  the  very  idea  of  a 
fmall  fliiver  again il  ihe  boat  ftrikes  with 
horror. 

Advancing,  you  catch  the  view  of  a 
moft  beautiful  water-fall,  within  the  wave 
of  a  gentle  bend  of  the  rocks ;  but  to  en- 
joy the  full  luxuriance  of  this  exquifitc 
landfcape,  it  is  neceffary  to  land  and  walk 
to  an  opening  in  the  grove,  from  whence 
it  is  feen  in  furprizing  beauty. 

You  look  up  a  tremendous  wall  of  rock, 
perpendicular  to  the  top,  fcattered  with 
wood,  that  feems  to  hang  in  the  air ;  a 
large  ftream  ruflies  out  of  a  cliff  near  the 
top,  and  falls,  in  the  mod  broken  and  ro- 
mantic manner,  feveral  hundred  feet :  It 
falls  in  one  gufli  for  feveral  yards  j  a  pro- 
jedting  part  of  the  rock  breaks  it  then  into 
three  ftreams,  which  are  prefently  quite 
loft  behind  hanging  woods.  Lower  down, 
you  again  catch  it  in  a  fingle  bright  flieet, 
among  the  furrounding  dark  wood,  in  the 
moft  elegantly  pi6turefque  manner  that 
fancy  can  conceive.  Lofing  itfelf  again 
behind  the  intervening  tree?,  it  breaks  to 
the  view  in  various  fcattered  ftreams,  half 
feen,  glittering  in  the  fun  beams,  among 
the  brandies  of  the  trees,  in  the  moft  be- 
witching^ 


].:JirM7.pa^jcJ46 


t  147  3 
\vitching  colours  of  nature's  clear  obfcurtf  j 
Lower  ftill,  you  again  catch  it  united  in 
one  bright  rulhing  fall,  in  the  dark  bofonl 
of  a  fine  hollow  wood,  which  fiiiiflies  the 
fcene.  The  furrounding  hills,  rocks,  and 
Icattered  pendent  woods,  are  all  romantic 
and  fublime,  and  tend  nobly  to  fet  off  this 
mofl:  exquifite  touch  of  rural  elegance.  In 
Plate  I.  is  the  fketch  I  took  of  it. 

Following  the  coaft  you  fail  rouiid  a 
fweet  little  ifland,  a  clump  of  wood  grow- 
ing out  of  the  lake  -,    but  it  is  joined  to 
the  main  land  when  the  Water  is  very  low* 
From   helnCe,    perfuing  the  voyage^   you 
come  into  the  narrow  part  of  the  lake, 
and  have  a  full   view  of   moft  romantic 
terrible  craggy  rocks,  incloling  a  mofl:  grand 
and   beautiful  cafcade :  It  is  a  view  that 
mufl:  aftonifh  the  fpe(5tator.     You  look  up 
to  two  dreadful  pointed  rocks,  of  a  vaft 
height,  which  almoft  hang  over  your  head, 
partly  fclttered  with  fhrubby  wood,  in  the 
wildeft  tafte  of  nature.     Between  them  is 
a  dreadful  precipice  of  broken  craggy  rock, 
over  which  a  raging  tofrent  foams  down 
in  one  vaft  fheet  of  Water,  feveral  yards 
wide,  juft  broken  into  ebullitions  by  the 
points  of  the  rocks  unfeen.     At  anpthef 
L  2  tim<J 


[     h8     ] 

time  I  faw  it>  when  the  craggy  rock  ap- 
peared, and  the  dream  was  broken  by  it 
Into  feveral  guihing  torrents,  which  feemed 
to  ifTue  diftindly  from  clefts  in  the  rock  in 
the  mod  pidurefque  manner  imaginable : 
The  water  is  loft  in  one  fpot,  caught  again 
in  another  ;  foaming  out  of  this  cleft  with 
ruOiing  impetuofity,  and  trickling  down 
that  with  the  moft  pleafing  elegance.  No- 
thing can  be  fancied  more  grand,  more 
beautiful,  or  romantic. 

The  fketch  in  Plate  II.  will  give  you  but 
an  imperfedt  idea  of  it. 

Taking  a  winding  walk  through  the 
wood,  it  leads  down  to  a  rapid  ftieam  which 
you  crofs,  and  prefently  come  to  a  new  and 
moft  delicious  fcene.  To  the  right  you 
catch  a  (ide  view  of  the  fall  juft  defcribed, 
in  a  new  dire9:ion,  moft  beautifully  em- 
bofomed  in  rock  and  hanging  wood.  Full 
in  front  you  look  upon  another  cafcade, 
which  rufhes  out  as  it  were  from  the  rotten 
ftnmp  of  an  old  tree,  and  falling  down  an 
irregular  furface  of  rock,  it  breaks  into 
larger  and  more  fheets,  fome  full,  others 
thin  and  trickling,  a  moft  fweet  variety ; 
After  this,  it  breaks  again,  and  falls  into 

the 


Vol.  JU.Pl  3.pcU7^74p. 


[     H9     ] 

the  ftream  in  frefli  beauty,   elegantly  ro- 
mantic.    Plate  III.  is  the  fketch  I  took. 

Following  the  fhore  into  fleet  water, 
you  come  into  a  region  of  mofl:  iiupendous 
rocks,  broken,  and  irregularly  pointed,  in 
the  moft  abrupt  and  wild  manner  ima- 
ginable, with  monflrous  fragments,  large 
as  a  houfe,  that  have  tumbled  from  their 
heads  —  Dreadful  in  the  idea  ! 

Perfuing  the  water  to  its  point,  you  come 
into  a  new  and  moft  glorious  amphitheatre 
of  rocks  and  mountains ;  on  one  fide,  crag- 
gy, broken,  and  wildly  irregular ;  and  on 
the  other,  a  vaft  range  of  mountain  fide. 
The  hollow  magnificently  great. 

Going  up  the  river  to  Grange  bridge, 
under  Grange  Crag  the  lake  is  loft  :  the 
profped:  new  and  terrible ;  a  whole  fweep 
of  rocks,  crags,  mountains,  and  dreadful 
chafms. 

Leaving  the  boat,  and  walking  up  to  the 
village,  you  gain  a  view  of  a  cone-like 
rocky  woody  hill,  rifing  in  the  midft  of  a 
hollow  of  mountains,  moft  nobly  romantic. 
From  hence  following  the  road  to  the  lake 
under  Brandelow  Hiil,  you  have  the  nobleft 
view  of  rocks  and  hills  in  the  world.  Gra7tge 
Crag  and  Crown  Head  appear  in  full  view, 
L  3  fur- 


[     15"    ] 

furroundcd  by  an  immenfe  wall  of  rock 
and  mountain.  Th?  effedt  aftonifhingly 
great. 

Taking  boat  again  you  row  round  a  pro- 
digious fine  promontory,  beautifully  wood- 
ed ;  and  upon  turning  it,  you  tack  about 
round  a  moft  exquifite  little  ifland  in  the 
bay ;  and  if  the  water  is  very  high,  there 
are  two  more  very  fine  woody  illands, 
grgund  which  you  may  row :  This  little 
archipelago  will  entertain  a  perfon  of  the 
leaft  tafte.  Nor  is  the  view  of  the  lake's 
environs  unworthy  of  admiration.  The 
crags  and  clifts  to  the  right  are  tremen- 
dous :  Skiddow  fronts  you  in  the  fublimeft 
ftile ;  paddle-back  on  one  fide  of  him  rears 
his  head  in  tl^e  boldeft  rnanner :  To  the 
left  you  lo©k  upon  an  exceeding  fine  hang- 
ing WQod,  beautifully  fpread  over  a  waving 
hill. 

Advancing  with  the  coafl  yoq  qext  lan4 
at  the  lead  mines,  which,  if  you  have  a 
tafte  for  grotto  work,  will  entertain,  as  a 
boat  may  be  loaded  with  fpar  of  various 
glittering  and  beautiful  kinds.  Here  alfo 
are  two  ^uriofities  of  an  uncommon  kind:? 
^/^.  two  fait  fprings. 

Sailing 


[    'S'    ] 

Sailing  along  the  fhore  it  leads  you  un- 
der a  noble  hill  moft  beautifully  fpread  with 
wood  i  it  is  covered  thick  with  young  tim- 
ber trees,  which  grow  in  the  moft  pi6tu- 
refque  manner  down  to  the  very  water's 
edge.  You  next  enter  a  little  bay,  and 
look  upon  a  moft  elegant  fmall  round  hill, 
covered  with  wood,  inimitably  beautiful. 
This  you  alfo  coaft,  nor  can  any  thing  be 
more  truly  exquifite  than  thefe  two  flopes 
of  wood,  with  beautiful  inclofures  between 
them,  contrafting  the  fublimity  of  the  rocks 
and  mountains  in  the  nobleft  ftile.  Nor 
fhould  you  here  forget  to  remark  three  or 
four  inclofures  on  the  other  lide  of  the 
lake,  down  to  the  water's  edge,  under  Ac/?- 
nefs  Fell',  they  are  exquifite. 

Sailing  by  fome  very  beautiful  grafs  in- 
clofures you  catch  a  white  houfe  romanti- 
cally fituated  'y  and  then  fl:irting  more  in- 
clofures, turn  round  a  fmall  but  moft  ex- 
quifite promontory,  with  a  fweet  clump  of 
trees  on  it :  This  leads  into  a  very  fine 
land  locked  bay,  which  commands  a  beau- 
tiful Hoping  hanging  wood ;  the  fcene  en- 
livened by  a  white  houfc  quite  in  the  fpot 
of  tafte.  From  hence  you  Ipok  over  the 
Jake  upon  Cajlle  Head  Crag^  a  fine  round 
L  4  of 


[    IS2    ] 

of  rocky  wood  rifing  out  of  a  vale   and 
backed  with  v/aving  inclofures. 

The  fhore  from  hence  is  moft  beauti- 
fully indented  and  irregular,  running  up 
among  little  hills  finely  fringed  with  wood  : 
From  hence  you  wind  in  and  out  of  feveral 
bays  and  creeks,  commanding  very  pic- 
turefque  views  of  the  land,  and  around  a 
moft  noble  hill  of  fhrubby  wood  covered 
to  the  very  top.  From  hence  around  the 
town  the  Ihore  is  flat. 

Your  next  view  of  Kefwick  mud  be  from 
land,  by  walking  up  the  vafl  rocks  and 
crags  firfl  defcribed.  This  is  a  journey 
which  will  terrify  thofe  who  have  been 
only  ufed  to  flat  countries.  The  walk  to 
the  highefl:  rock  is  a  mile  and  half  up, 
and  almofl:  perpendicular,  horribly  rugged, 
and  tremendous ;  it  is  rather  a  climbing 
crawl  than  a  w.^.lk.  The  path  crofled  the 
ftream,  which  forms  the  firfl:  mentioned 
cafcade,  in  the  midfl:  of  dreadful  clifts  and 
romantic  hollows  :  The  torrent  roars  be- 
neath you,  in  fome  places  feen,  in  others 
hid  by  rock  and  wood. 

From  hence  you  climb  through  a  flope 
of  underwood  to  the  edge  of  a  precipice, 
from  which  you  look  down  upon  the  lake 

and 


[     "53     ] 

and  iflands  in  a  moft  beautiful  manner ; 
for  coming  at  once  upon  them,  after  leav- 
ing a  thick  dark  wood,  the  emotions  of 
furprize  and  admiration  are  very  great. 

Following  the  path,  (if  it  may  be  fo 
called)  you  pafs  many  romantic  fpots,  'and 
come  to  a  projedion  of  the  hill,  from 
which  you  look  down,  not  only  upon  the 
lake  as  before,  but  alfo  upon  a  femi-cir- 
cular  vale  of  inclofures,  of  a  moft  beauti- 
ful verdure,  which  gives  a  fine  curve  into 
the  lake  :  One  of  the  fields  is  fcattered 
over  with  trees,  which  from  hence  have 
the  moft  truly  pidurefque  effe6l  ima- 
ginable. 

Advancing  further  yet,  you  come  to  the 
head  of  Crajiig-fall^  which  is  a  vaft  open- 
ing among  thefe  immenfe  rocky  moun- 
tains, that  lets  in  between  them  a  view  a- 
crofs  the  lake,  catching  two  of  the  iflands, 
(^c.  in  a  moft  beautiful  manner ;  nor  can 
any  thing  be  more  horribly  romantic  than 
the  adjoining  ground  where  you  command 
this  fweet  view. 

At  laft  we  gained  the  top  of  the  cfag, 
sod  from  it  the  profpscl  is  truly  noble  ; 
you  look  down  upon  the  lake,  fpotted  with 
its  illands,  fo  far  below  as  to  appear  in  ano- 
ther 


[  '54  ] 
thcr  region  ;  the  lower  hills  and  rocks  rife 
moft  pidturefquely  to  the  view.  To  the 
right  you  look  down  upon  a  beautiful  vale 
of  cultivated  inclofures,  vvhofe  verdure  is 
painting  itfelf.  The  town  prefents  its  Mat- 
tered houfes,  among  woods  and  fprcading 
trees:  Above  it  rifes  iS/^/^t/ow,  cloud- top- 
ped in  the  moft  fublime  magnitude. 

Dcfcending  to  the  town,   we  took  our 
leave  of  this  enchanting  region  of  landfcape, 
by  fcaling  the  formidable  walls  of  Skiddow 
himfelf:  It  is  five  miles  to  the  top,  but  the 
immenfity  of  the  view  fully  repays  for  the 
labour  of  gaining  it.     You  look  upon  the 
lake,  which  here  appears  no  more  than  a 
little  bafon,  and  its  iilands  but  as  fo  many 
fpots^  it  is  furrounded  by  a  prodigious  range 
of  rocks  and  mountains,  wild  as  the  waves, 
fublimely  romantic.  Thefe  dreadful  fweeps, 
the  fport  of  nature  in  the  moft  violent  of 
her  moments,  are  the  moft  ftriking  objedts 
{^^n.  from  Skiddowy  but  in  mere  extent  the 
view  is  prodigious.     You  fee  the  hills  in 
Scotland  plainly  i   you  view  a  fine  reach  of 
^ ;  command    the   Ijle  of  Man,  and  fee- 
part  of  an  objedt,  which  I  take  to  be  an 
highland    in   Ire/and;    befides   prodigious 
tr^icls  of  adjacent  country. 


i     '55    J 

Kefwick,  upon  the  whole,  contains  a  va- 
riety that  cannot  fail  of  aftonilhing  the 
fpedlator:  The  lake,  the  iflands,  thehang^ 
ing  woods,  the  waving  inclofures,  and  the 
calcades  are  all  moft  fuperlatively  elegant 
and  beautiful  i  while  the  rocks,  clifts,  crags, 
and  mountains   are  equally  terrifying  and 
fublime.     There  cannot  be  a  finer  contraft. 
Bqt  it  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  art  does 
not  yield  more  of  her  affiftance,  not  in  de- 
coration, for  the  lake  wants  it  not,  but  in 
enabling  the  fpedator  to  command,   with 
greater  eafe,  the   luxuriant   beauties   and 
ftriking  views  which  to  fo  many  travellers 
are  hitherto  quite  unknown :  There  ^re  a 
vafl  many  edges  of  precipices,  bold  pro- 
jections of  rock,  pendent  clifts,  and  wild 
romantic  fpots,  which  command  the  moft 
delicious    fcenes,     but   which    cannot   be 
reached  without  the  moft  perilous  difficul- 
ty :  To  fuch  points  of  view,  winding  paths 
fhould  be  cut  in   the  rock,    and  refting- 
places  made  for  the  weary  traveller  :  Mi^ny 
of  thefe  paths  mqft  neceftarily  lead  through 
the   hanging    woods,   openings    might  be 
made  to  let  in  views  of  the  lake,  where  the 
cbje(fls,  fuch  as  illands,  5cc.  were  pecuharly 
^Deautiful.     At  the  bottoms   of  the  rock? 

^Ifo, 


[     '56     ] 

alfo,  fomething  of  the  fame  nature  fhould 
be  executed  for  the  better  viewing  the  ro- 
mantic cafcades,  which  might  be  exhibited 
"With  a  little  art,  in  a  variety  that  would 
aftonifh. 

It  is  amufing  to  think  of  the  pains  and 
expence  with  which  the  environs  of  feveral 
feats  have  been  ornamented,  to  produce 
pretty  fcenes  it  is  true,  but  how  very  far 
fhort  of  the  wonders  that  might  here  be 
held  Up  to  the  eye  in  all  the  rich  luxuriance 
of  nature's  painting.  What  are  the  effects 
6f  a  Louis'^  magnificence  to  the  fportive  play 
of  nature  in  the  vale  of  Kefwick !  How 
trifling  the  labours  of  art  to  the  mere 
pranks  of  nature  ! 

Returning  to  Penritbt  our  next  expedi- 
tion was  to  Hulls  Water y  a  very  fine  lake, 
about  fix  miles  from  that  town  :  The  ap- 
proach to  it  is  very  beautiful ;  the  mofi:  ad- 
vantageous way  of  feeing  it  is  to  take  the 
road  up  Dimmanlot  Hill,  for  you  rile  up  a 
very  beautiful  planted  hill,  and  fee  nothing 
of  the  water  till  you  gain  the  fummitj 
when  the  view  is  uncommonly  beautiful. 
You  look  dov/n  at  once  upon  one  flieet  of 
the  lake,  which  appears  prodigioufly  fine. 
It   is    an    oblong   water,     cut   by  illands, 

three 


[  '57  ] 
three  miles  long  and  a  mile  and  half 
broad  in  fome  places,  in  others  a  n^ile. 
It  is  inclofed  within  an  amphitheatre  of 
hills,  in  front  at  the  end  of  the  reach,  pro- 
jedling  down  to  the  water  edge,  but  retiring 
from  it  on  each  fide,  fo  as  to  leave  a  fpace 
of  cultivated  inclofures  between  the  feet  and 
the  lake.  The  hedges  that  divide  them  are 
fcattered  with  trees ;  and  the  fields  of  both 
grafs  and  corn,  waving  in  beautiful  Hopes 
from  the  water,  interfed;ed  by  hedges,  in 
the  moft  pid:urefque  manner. 

Upon  the  right,  a  bold  fvvelling  hill  of 
turf  rifes  with  a  fine  air  of  grandeur.  An- 
other view  from  off  this  hill  is  on  to  a 
mountain's  fide,  which  prefents  to  the  eye 
a  fwelling  ilope  of  turf,  and  over  it  Saddle* 
back  rifes  in  a  noble  ftile. 

Another  view  from  this  hill  is  down 
upon  a  beautiful  vale  of  cultivated  inclo- 
fures;  Mv.HaJfers  houfe  dXDelmainey  in 
one  part,  almoil:  encompafied  with  a  plan- 
tation :  Here  you  likewife  catch  feme 
meanders  of  the  river,  through  the  trees, 
and  hear  the  roar  of  a  water-fall.  This 
hill  is  itfelf  a  very  fine  objed:,  viewed  every 
way,  but  the  fimplicity  of  its  effed;  is  de- 
ftroyed,  by  being  cut  by  a  double  ftripe  of 

Scotcb 


[     IS8    ] 

Scotch  firs  acrofs  it,  Xvhich  varies  the  cc5-» 
lour  of  the  verdure,  and  confeqiiently 
breaks  the  unity  of  the  vicv/. 

Another  point  of  view  from  which  this 
part  of  the  lake  is  feen  to  good  adv^in- 
tage,  is  from  off  Soulby  Fell:  You  look 
down  upon  the  water,  which  fpreads  very 
finely  to  the  view,  bounded  to  the  right  by 
the  hills,  which  rife  from  the  very  water ; 
at  the  other,  by  Dunmanlot  Mill ;  in  fronts 
by  a  fine  range  of  inclofures,  rifing  mofl 
beautifully  to  the  view,  and  the  water's 
edge  ikirted  by  trees,  in  a  moft  pidurefque 
manner. 

Dirediing  your  courfe  under  the  lak^, 
and  landing  at  Swarth  Fell,  the  next  bu- 
finefs  fhould  be  to  mount  its  height.  The 
lake  winds  at  your  feet  like  a  noble  river  ^ 
the  oppofite  banks  beautiful  inclofures,  ex- 
quifitely  fringed  with  trees ;  arid  fome  lit- 
tle narrow  flips,  like  promontories,  jet  into 
it  with  the  moft  pidlurefque  effed:  imagi- 
nable; and  at  the  fame  time  hear  the  noife 
of  a  water-fall  beneath,  but  unfeen. 

Taking  boat  again,  and  failing  with  the 
courfe  of  the  lake,  you  turn  with  its  bend, 
and  come  into  a  very  fine  fheet  of  witer, 
v/hich  appears  like  a  lake  of  itfelf.     It  is 

under 


[     '59    ] 

under  How  town  and  Haw  ling  Fell.  The 
environs  here  are  very  ftriking  j  cultivated 
inclofures  on  one  fide,  crowned  with  the 
tops  of  hills ;  and  on  the  other,  a  woody 
craggy  hill  down  to  the  very  water's  edge. 
The  effedl  fine. 

Next  you  double  Hawling  Fell,  and 
come  again  into  a  new  fheet  of  water,  un- 
der Martindale  Fell,  which  is  a  prodigious 
fine  hill,  of  a  bold,  abrupt  form ;  and  be- 
tween that  and  Howling  Fell,  a  little  rifing 
wave  of  cultivated  inclofures,  fkirted  with 
trees ;  the  fields  of  the  fineft  verdure,  and 
the  pi6lurefque  appearance  of  the  whole 
moft  exquifitely  pleafing.  It  is  a  molr  de- 
licious fpot,  within  an  amphitheatre  of 
rugged  hills. 

Following  the  bend  of  the  water  under 
New  Cragy  the  views  are  more  romantic 
than  in  any  part  hitherto  fecn.  New 
Cragy  to  the  right,  rears  a  bold,  abrupt 
head,  in  a  flile  truly  fublime ;  and  paffing 
it  a  little,  the  oppofite  fliore  is  very  noble. 
Martindale  Fell  rifes  fteep  from  the  water's 
edge,  and  prefents  a  bold  wall  of  moun- 
tain ;  really  glorious.  In  front,  the  hills 
are  craggy,  broken,  and  irregular  in  (liape 
(not  height)  like  thofe  of  Kcjwick  :  They 

proje<lt 


i  i6o  i 

ptojecft  Co  boldly  to  the  very  water,  that 
the  outlet  or  wind  of  the  water  is  fliut  by 
them  from  the  eye.  It  feems  inclofed  by 
a  {hore  of  fteep  hills  and  crags.  From 
hence  to  the  end  of  the  lake,  which  there 
is  fprinkled  by  three  or  four  fmall  iilands, 
the  views  are  in  the  fame  ftile,  very  wild 
and  romantic.  It  is  an  exceedingly  pleafing 
entertainment  to  fail  about  this  fine  lake, 
which  is  nineteen  miles  round,  and  pre- 
fents  to  the  eye  feveral  very  fine  fheets  of 
water;  and  abounds,  for  another  amufe- 
ment,  with  noble  fifh ;  pike  to  30 /zJ. 
perch  to  6  /L  trout  to  6  3.  befides  many 
other  forts.  The  water  is  of  a  moft  beau- 
tiful colour,  and  admirably  tranfparent. 

Returning  to  Penrith,  I  took  the  road 
to  Shappi  by  Loivther  Hally  the  feat  of 
Sir  Jafnes  Lowthcry  Bart.  The  houfe  (it 
was  burnt  down  not  many  years  ago)  is 
not  fo  ftriking  as  the  plantations,  which 
are  defigned  with  much  tafte,  and  of  very 
great  extent.  Near  the  road  is  the  new 
town  oi  LowtbeKy  where  Sir  James  is 
building!  a  town  to  confift  of  ^00  lioufes, 
for  the  ufe  of  fuch  of  his  domefticks,  and 
other  people,  as  are  married :  And  it  is 
higl;ly   v/crthy   of  remark,    that   he  not 

only 


[     :6,     ] 

only  encourages  all  to  marry,  but  keeps 
them  in  his  fervice  after  they  have  fami- 
lies :  Every  couple  finds  a  refidence  here, 
and  an  annual  allowance  of  coals.  This  is 
a  moll  incoQiparable  method  of  advancing 
population,  and  confequently  the  good  of 
the  nation  at  large  \  nor  can  it  be  too 
much  imitated.  Above  forty  houfes  are 
already  erected. 

The  foil  about  Shapp  is  generally  a  loam 
upon  a  lime-ftone,  in  fome  places  thin, 
but  in  others  deep ;  letts  from  i  s.  to  20  s, 
an  acre  ;  but  the  inclofures  generally  20  j". 

Farms  from  40/.  to  400  /.  a  year. 

Their  courfe, 

1 .  Break  up,  and  fow  oats 

2.  Oats 

3.  Barley 

4.  Oats,  and  then  down  again. 
This  is  execrable. 

They  plough  but  once  for  barley,  fow 
two  bufhels,  and  gain  about  twenty.  For 
oats  they  give  three  or  four  ploughings, 
fow  feven  bufhels  and  a  half,  and  gain 
thirty-five  in  return. 

Good  grafs  letts  at  20^.  and  25^.  an  acre; 
it   is   ufed  both  for  dairying   and  fatting. 

Vol..  Jir.  M  Inu 


[     i62     ] 

H??r'  chiefly  the  latter  :  An  acre  they  reckon 
_.eep  a  cow  through  the  fummer,  or 
lix  Iheep.  They  manure  it  as  much  as 
they  can,  but  that  is  no  great  matter* 
Their  breed  of  cattle  is  the  long-horned, 
and  have  fatted  them  fo  high  as  i  '^o  ftone, 
but  very  uncommon;  60  to  80  common. 

The  produ<5t  of  a  cow  they  reckon  at  5  /. 
and  four  gallons  the  common  quantity  of 
milk  per  day  :  As  to  fwine,  they  keep 
none,  upon  account  of  cows :  A  farmer 
without  a  dairy  has  as  many  as  thofe 
who  keep  the  largeft,  which  would  fur- 
prize  a  Suffolk  or  an  Effex  man.  The  win- 
ter food  of  the  cows  is  hay,  in  general, 
but  fome  ftraw.  Their  calves  for  the 
butcher  fuck  from  one  to  ten  weeks ;  for 
rearing,  not  at  all,  but  are  all  brought  up 
by  hand  with  milk,  for  twenty  weeks.  A 
cow,  in  winter,  generally  eats  an  acre  and 
an  half  of  hay,  and  they  are  kept  in  houfe. 
The  fummer  joifl  from  14^.  to  40 j". 

Their  flocks  of  flieep  rife  from  5  to 
1500.  They  fell  no  lambs,  but  rear  them 
for  weathers,  at  from  y  s.  to  14^.  The  pro- 
fit, per  head,  of  the  flock,  about  ^s. 
Keep  them,  both  winter  and  fpring,   on 

the 


t  ^63  ] 

the  cammons :  The  weight  of  the  fleeces 
3  or  \lb,  at  3^. 

They  ufe  two  or  three  horfes  in  a  plough, 
and  do  an  acre  a  day.  The  fummer  joift 
of  a  horfe  varies  from  10  J.  to  50  J.  The 
price  of  ploughing,  from  5J.  to  6j.  an 
acre  :  They  cut  about  five  inches  deep. 

They  know  nothing  of  cutting  ftraw  for 
chaff. 

They  reckon  5  or  600/.  neccfTary  to 
flock  a  farm  of  100/.  a  year:  Iney  are, 
in  general,  grazing  ones. 

Land  fells  from  30  to  35  years  purchafe: 
There  are  many  freeholds  of  from  1 00  to 
300/.  a  year. 

Tythes  both  gathered  and  compounded. 
Poor  rates  from  6  ^.  to  i  s.  in  the  pound. 
The  employment  fpinning  wool,  for  Ken^ 
dal.     All  drink  tea. 

The  farmers  carry  their  corn  ten  miles. 
The  following  particulars  of  farms  will 
ihew  the  general  ceconomy. 
200  acres  of  grafs 
^.140  rent 
2  horfes 
60  fatting  beads 
T  o  cows 

M  2  20  young 


[    i64    ] 

20  young  cattle 
700  fheep  (common  right) 
2  men 

1  maid. 
Another, 

100  acres  in  all 
15  arable 
85  grafs 
j(^.  ICO  rent 

2  horfes 
20  cows 

1 5  fatting  hearts 
1 5  young  cattle 
200  fheep  (common  right) 
I  man 
I  maid. 
Another, 

1 20  acres  in  all 
20  arable 
100  grafs 

£.^1S  rent 

3  horfes 
1 3  cows 

8  fatting  beafls 
10  young  cattle 
500  fheep  (common  right) 
I  man 

I  maid 


[    i65    ] 

I  maid 

1  boy. 
Another, 

70  acres  in  all 

5  arable 
65  grafs 

^,63  rent 

2  horfes 
10  cows 

2  fatting  beafts 
8  young  cattle 
2 00  {heep  (common  right) 
I  boy 
I  maid. 
Another, 

50  acres,  all  grafs 

£'  40  rent 
I  horfe 

6  fatting  beafts 
8  cows 

I  o  young  cattle 
80  flieep  (common  right) 
I  boy. 

LABOUR. 

In  harveft,  8  ^.  to  10  ^.  and  board. 
In  hay  time,  is,  to  is.  6 d.  and  ditto. 

M  3  In 


[    i66    ] 

In  winter,  6d,  and  ditto. 

Mowing  3  s. 

Head  man's  wages,  9  /. 

Next  ditto,  7  /.  10/. 

Boy  of  ten  or  twelve  years,  50 J. 

Maids,  4/.  to  5  /. 

Women  per  day  in  harveft,  6  d.  and  board. 

In  hay  time,  ditto. 

IMPLEMENTS, 

No  waggons. 

A  cart,  5  /. 

A  plough,  30J-. 

A  harrow,  js.  6d. 

No  rollers. 

A  fcythe,  2s.  6d.  to  4.(. 

A  fpade,   2s.  6d. 

Shoeing,  2  s. 

P  R  O  V  I  S  I  O  N  S,  ^s'c. 

Bread— Oat, 
Cheefe,  2ld. 
Putter,  yld.  20  oz. 
Beef,  2d,  to  2  \d. 
Mutton,  2d,  to  2\d. 
Veal,  ditto. 

Pork, 


[     1^7    ] 
Pork,  4.d.  to  41  d. 
Bacon,  yd. 
Milk,   f  d,  per  pint. 
Potatoes,  2d.  2,  peck.     , 
Candles,  yd. 
Soap,  6  ^  ^. 

Labourer's  houfe-rent,  20  j-.  tc  40  j', 
« — — — firing,  20  s.  to  70  J-. 

BUILDING. 

Oak,  IS.  /\.d, 

Afh,   I  /.  2  ^. 

Carpenter,  ij.  a  day,  and  board. 

Slate,  ccj-  a  rood,  brought  in. 

, ^.  laying  on  and  lime,  151. 

Stone  walling,  7  ^.  a  yard  workmanfliip ; 
and  getting,  2  ^. 

I  took  the  opportunity  of  being  at  Shapp 
to  ride  to  Haws  Watery  a  lake  fome  miles 
to  the  weftward.  The  road  thither  leads 
for  fome  diftance  along  the  fide  of  a  hill, 
which  commands  an  exceeding  fine  view  of 
Ponton  Vale  to  the  left.  It  is  feveral  miles 
in  length,  of  an  oblong  figure,  all  cut  into 
inclofures  of  a  charming  verdure,  and  fcat- 
tered  in  the  moft  piclurefque  manner  with 

M  4  villages. 


[  i68  ] 
villages,  clumps  of  wood,  houfes,  bridges, 
trees,  &c.  A  fine  river  takes  the  moft 
beautiful  ferpentine  courfe  in  the  world 
through  it  :  The  oppofite  bank  is  a  large 
ridge  of  mountain.  It  is  a  fweet  landfcape, 
which  brings  to  ones  imagination  the  idea 
of  an  Arcadian  paradife. 

The  approach  to  the  lake  is  very  pidtu- 
refque :  You  pafs  between  two  high  ridges 
of  mountain,  the  banks  finely  fpread  with 
inclofures  j  upon  the  right  two  fmall  beau- 
tiful hills,  one  of  them  covered  with 
wood;  they  are  moft  pleafingly  elegant. 
The  lake  is  a  fmall  one,  about  three  miles 
long,  half  a  mile  over  in  fome  places, 
and  a  quarter  in  others  j  almoft  divided  in 
the  middle  by  a  promontory  of  inclofures, 
joining  only  by  a  ftreight ;  fo  that  it  confifts 
of  tw\)  fheets  of  water.  The  upper  end  of 
it  is  fine,  quite  inclofed  with  bold  fteep 
craggy  rocks  and  mountains ;  and  in  the 
center  of  the  end  a  few  little  inclofures  at 
their  feet,  waving  upwards  in  a  very  beau- 
tiful manner.  The  fouth  fide  of  the  lake 
is  a  noble  ridge  of  mountain,  very  bold  and 
prominent  down  to  the  waters  edge.  They 
bulge  out  in  the  center  in  a  fine  bold  pen- 
dent 


[    i69    ] 

dent  broad  head  that  is  venerably  magnifi- 
cent: And  the  view  of  the  firrt:  (lieet  of  the 
lake  lofing  itfelf  into  the  fecond  among 
hills,  rocks,  woods,  &c.  is  pidurefque.  The 
oppofite  fliore  confiits  of  inclofures,  rifing 
one  above  another,  and  crowned  with 
craggy  rocks. 

Twelve  of  the  fifteen  miles  from 
Shapp  to  Kendal  are  a  continued  chain  of 
mountainous  moors,  totally  uncultivated ; 
one  dreary  profpeft,  that  makes  one  me- 
lancholy to  behold  ;  for  the  foil  itfelf  is 
highly  capable  of  cultivation  and  of  profita- 
ble ufes  j  much  of  it  is  of  a  good  depth  -, 
and  the  fpontaneous  growth  proves  that 
the  nature  of  the  land  is  equal  to  many  va- 
luable ufes. 

After  crofling  this  dreary  track,  the  firrt: 
appearance  of  good  country  is  moft  exqui- 
fitely  fine  J  about  three  miles  from  Kendal 
you  at  once  look  down  from  off  this  depi- 
late country  upon  one  of  the  fineft  land- 
fcapes  in  the  world  -,  a  noble  range  of 
fertile  inclofures,  richly  enameled  with 
moil  beautiful  verdure  :  And  coming  to  the 
brow  of  the  hill  have  a  moft  elegantly  pic- 
ture fque  view  of  a  variegated  track  of  wav- 


ing 


[     ijo     ] 

ing  inclofures,  fpreading  over  hills,  and  hang-» 
ing  to  the  eye  in  the  moft  pidturefque  and 
pleafing  manner  that  fancy  can  conceive. 
Three  hills  in  particular  are  overlooked, 
cut  into  inclofures  in  a  charming  ftile,  of 
themfelves  forming  a  moft  elegant  land- 
fcape,  and  worthy  the  imitation  of  thofe 
who  would  give  the  embellifhments  of  art 
to  the  fimplicity  of  nature. 

Kendal  is  a  well  built  and  well  paved 
town,  pleafantly  fituated,  in  the  midft  of  the 
beautiful  country  juft  defcribed.  It  is  fa- 
mous for  feveral  manufactories ;  the  chief 
of  which  is  that  of  knit  ftockings,  employ- 
ing near  5000  hands  by  computation.  They 
reckon  120  wool-combers,  each  employ- 
ing five  fpinners,  and  each  fpinner  four  or 
five  knitters ;  if  four,  the  amount  is  2400  ; 
this  is  the. full  work,  fuppolang  them  all  to 
be  induftrious  -,  but  the  number  is  probably 
much  greater.  They  make  550  dozen  a 
week  the  year  round,  or  28,600  dozen  an- 
nually :  The  price  per  pair  is  from  22^. 
to  6  J-.  but  in  general  from  22^.  to  4/. 
fome  boys  at  \o  d.  If  we  fuppofe  the  ave- 
rage 3  J-.  or  36/.  a  dozen,  the  amount  is 
51,480/. 

The 


[  '/J  ] 

The  wool  they  ufe  is  chiefly  Leicejier- 
JlnrCi  TFdr'wkkJhire,  and  Durham  :  They 
generally  mix  Leicejierjhire  and  Durham 
together.  The  price  %  d.  qd.  and  lo  d, 
per  lb.  They  fend  all  the  manufaiSture  to 
London  by  land  carriage,  which  is  faid  to 
be  the  longeft,  for  broad  wheel  waggons, 
of  any  ftage  in  England.  The  earnings  of 
the  manufacturers  in  this  branch  are  as 
follow : 

s.  d. 
The  combers, /^r  week,  -  lo  6 
The  fpinners,  women,  --30 
Ditto,  children  of  ten  or  twelve 

years,  -  -  -  20 

The  knitters,         -  -  26 

Ditto,  children  of  ten  or  twelve 

years,  -  -  -20 

All  the  work-people  may  have  conftant 
employment  if  they  pleafe. 

During  the  late  war  bufinefs  was  ex- 
ceedingly briik,  very  dull  after  the  peace, 
but  now  as  good  as  ever  known. 

The  making  of  cottons  is  like  wife  a  con« 
fiderable  manufad:ure  in  this  town.  They 
are  called  Kendal  cottons,  chiefly  for  ex- 
portation, or  failors  jackets,  about  lod.  or 


s. 

^. 

lO 

6 

4 

3 

3 

3 

[   172  ] 

I  s,  a  yard,  made  of  Wejlmoreland  wool, 

which  is  very  coarfe,  felling  only  at  3  d.  or 

4  d,  pe?'  lb.     This  branch  employs  three  or 

400  hands,  particularly  fliearmen,  weavers, 

and  fpinners. 

The  fhearmen  earn  per  week, 

The  weavers,  (chiefly  women,) 

The  fpinners,       -       -       - 

All  have  conflant  employment.    During 

the  war  this  manufacture  was  more  brifk 

than  ever,  very  dull  after  the  peace,   and 

has  continued  but  indifferent  ever  flnce. 

Their  third  branch  of  manufadlure  is  the 
linfey  woolfey,  made  chiefly  for  home  con- 
fumption,  oi  Wejlmorlandy  Lancajhire,  and 
Cumberland  wool;  the  hands  are  chiefly 
weavers  and  fpinners.  The  firfl  earn  9  j-. 
or  I  o  J",  a  week ;  the  fecond  (women)  4  s, 
6d.  or  ^  s. 

The  farmers  and  labourers  fpin  their 
own  wool,  and  bring  the  yarn  to  market 
every  week  :  There  are  about  500  weavers 
employed,  and  from  1000  to  1300  fpin- 
ners in  town  and  country.  The  bufinefs 
during  the  war  was  better  than  it  has  been 
lince,  but  is  now  better  than  after  the 
peace. 

Their 


[     ^7Z     ] 

Their  fourth  manufacfture  is  the  tannery, 
which  employs  near  lOO  hands,  who  earn 
from  js.  to  7  J.  td.  a  week.  They  tan 
many  hides  from  Ireland. 

They  have  likewife  a  fmall  manufatflory 
of  cards,  for  carding  cloth.  Another  alfb 
of  filk :  They  receive  the  wafte  filk  from 
London,  boil  ft  in  foap,  which  they  call 
fcowering,  then  it  is  combed  by  women 
(there  are  about  30  or  40  of  them)  and  fpun, 
which  article  employs  about  100  hands; 
after  this  it  is  doubled  and  drelTed,  and  fent 
back  again  to  London.  This  branch  is 
wpon  the  increafe. 

PROVISIONS,    &c. 

Bread— oatmeal  baked  in  thin  hard  cakes, 

called  clap-bread,  cofts  id.  per  lb. 
Chcefe,    31^. 
Butter,  6k  d.  16  oz. 
Mutton,  zd.  to  2  k  d. 
Beef,   21  d.  to  3  ^. 
Veal,  21  d. 
Pork,  41  d. 
Bacon,  6  k  d. 
Milk,  id.  a  pint. 
Potatoes,  10  d,  four  gallons. 

Poor's 


[  m  ] 

Poor's  houfe  rent,   30  j. 
firing,  45  J-.  to  50  J. 

Kendal  is  a  very  plentiful  and  cheap 
place  y  fat  ftubble  gtt^c  are  fold  at  i  j.  4  d, 
each  *  ;  fat  fowls  at  1  s.  a  couple  j  fat  ducks 
the  fame  price  -,  wild  fowl  and  game  in 
great  plenty ;  woodcocks  often  at  2  d.  a 
piece ;  partridges  are  fold  common  in  the 
market  and  very  cheap :  Fifh  in  great 
plenty ;  trout  oftentimes  at  a  penny  a  pound, 
befides  many  other  forts.  It  is  a  neat  well 
built  town. 

From  hence  we  viewed  the  famous  lake 
called  Winander  Meer,  ten  miles  weft  of 
Kendah  by  much  the  longeft  water  of  the 
kind  in  England.  It  is  fifteen  miles  long, 
and  from  two  miles  to  half  a  mile  broad.  It 
gives  gentle  bends,  fo  as  to  prefent  to  the 
eye  feveral  noble  flieets  of  water  ;  and  is  in 
many    places    beautifully    fcattered    with 


*  This  is  fo  cheap,  that  a  Living  I  heard  of  is 
iiot  a  very  fat  one,  4/.  a  year,  a  pair  oi  wooden  JhoeSi 
and  a  Goofe-Gate.     Alas,  poor  Redor  ! 

All  the  poor  in  this  country  wear  v/oodcn  flioes.  ^ 
A  Goofe-Gate  is  the  right   of  keeping  a  goofe  on 
the  common. 

iflands  r 


[     ^7S    ] 

iflands :  The  fhores  are  nobly  varied,  con- 
fifting  in  fome  places  of  fine  ridges  of  hills, 
in  others  of  craggy  rocks ;  in  fgrne  of  wav- 
ing inclofures,  and  in  others  of  the  fined 
hanging  woods;  feveral  villages  and  one 
market  town  are  fituated  on  its  hanks,  and 
a  ferry  crofles  it  to  another;  there  is  feme 
bufinefs  carried  on  upon  it,  fo  that  it  is  not 
uncommon  to  fee  barges  with  fpreading 
fails :  All  thefe  circumftances  give  it  a  very 
chearful  appearance,  at  the  fame  time  that 
they  add  to  its  beauty. 

I  would  advife  thofe  who  view  this  lake, 
not  to  take  the  common  road  down  to  the 
village  o^ Bonus*,  where  the  boats  are  kept, 
but  (^for  reafons  which  I  ftiall  hereafter  add) 
to  go  thither  round  almoft  by  the  ferry. 
The  landlord  at  the  inn  at  that  village  keeps 
a  boat,  and  can  always  provide  rowers  for 
any  company  that  comes ;  the  extreme 
beauty  of  the  lake  induced  me  to  explore 
every  part  of  it  with  attention ;  but  as  I 


*  I  am  fenfible  throughout  this  Tour  of  mis- 
fpelt  names  ;  but  many  of  the  places  I  mention  are 
not  to  be  found  in  maps,  I  am  obliged,  therefore, 
to  write  from  the  ear. 

have 


[     .76     i 

have  already  troubled  you  with  feveral  re^ 
citals  of  thefe  water  expeditions,  I  ihall 
only  mention  a  few  of  the  principal  points 
of  view,  and  to  which  I  ihould  particularly 
recommend  any  traveller  to  row  if  he  had 
not  time  to  view  the  whole  lake ;  but  no 
fcheme  of  this  fort  can  be  more  amufing 
than  two  or  three  days  fpent  here  in 
rowing,  failing,  hlhing,  and  wild  duck 
fhooting,  all  which  are  here  to  be  had 
in  great  perfedtion ;  and  I  fliould  add, 
that  the  end  of  May^  or  the  beginning 
of  June,  is  the  proper  time  for  fuch  an  ex- 
pedition. 

Taking  boat  at  the  village,  you  row  firft 
to  The  IJland,  fo  called  by  way  of  pre- 
eminence, being  by  much  the  largefl  in 
the  lake;  it  contains  between  thirty  and 
forty  acres  of  land,  and  I  cannot  but  think 
it  the  fweeteft  fpot,  and  full  of  the  greateft 
capabilities,  of  any  forty  acres  in  the  king's 
dominions.  The  view  from  the  fouth  end  is 
very  line ;  the  lake  prefents  a  moft  noble 
Iheet  of  water  ftretching  away  for  feveral 
miles,  and  bounded  in  front  by  diftant 
mountains ;  the  {hoars  beautifully  indented 
by  promontories  covered  with   wood,   and 

jetting 


[  ^11  ] 

jetting  into  the  water  in  the  moft  plc- 
turefque  ftile  imaginable,  particularly  the 
ferry  points  on  both  fides ;  it  is  broke 
by  Berkjhtre  I/land y  an  elegant  fpot, 
finely  wooded  in  one  part,  and  by  Craw 
IJlandj  almoft  covered  with  wood,  in  an- 
other, and  jufl  hides  a  houfe  on  the  main 
land. 

The  eaftern  fhore  is  fpread  forth  with 
the  moft  beautiful  variety.  In  fome  places 
waving  inclofures  of  corn  and  grafs  rife 
one  above  another,  and  prefent  to  the  eye 
a  fcenery  beyond  the  brighteft  ideas  of 
painting  itfelf.  In  others  flirubby  fpots 
and  pendent  woods  hang  down  to  the  very 
water's  edge  :  In  fome  places  thefe  woods 
are  broke  by  a  few  fmall  grafs  inclofures 
of  the  fweeteft  verdure  j  and  in  others  run 
around  large  circuits  of  them,  and,  rifing 
to  the  higher  grounds,  lofe  themfelves  in 
the  wilds  above.  Here  you  fee  flips 
of  land  running  into  the  lake,  and  co- 
^yered  with  trees  which  feem  to  rife 
from  the  water:  There,  a  boldly  inden- 
ted fliore,  fwelling  into  fine  bays,  and 
fkirted  with  fpreading  trees,  an  edging  as 
elegant  as  ever  fancied  by  Claud  himfelf. 
The  village  is  caught  among  fome  icat- 

Voi^ILL  N  tered 


[     178    ] 

tered  trees,  in.  afweet  fituation.,  on  the 
bank  of  a  bay,  formed  by  a  promontory  of 
wood,  the  back  ground  a  fweep  of  inclo- 
fures,  riling  one  above  another. 

Following  this  line  of  Ihoar  towards  the 
north,  you  command  Bannerig  and  Oareji 
Heady  two  hills  all  cut  into  inclofures  to 
the  very  top  -,  to  the  north  you  look  upon 
a  noble  range  of  irregular  mountains,  which 
contraft  finely  with  the  other  more  beau- 
tiful fhores.  The  weftern  is  a  fine  fweep  of 
craggy  rocks,  here  and  there  fringed  with 
wood.  Advancing  to  the  very  fartheft 
point  of  land,  thefe  objeds  are  varied,  and 
new  ones  appear  that  are  truly  beautiful. 
The  L,ancaj1:ire  ferry  point  and  the  woody 
ifland  join,  and  feem  one  prodigious  fine 
promontory  of  wood ;  the  ferry  houfe  i'^tvi 
among  the  trees  in  a  pid:urefque  manner. 
They  form  the  boundary  in  front  of  a  fine 
bay,  walled  in  to  the  right  by  a  noble 
rocky  cliff ;  and  in  the  middle  of  it  a  fweet 
little  woody  ifland.  Over  the  low  part  of 
the  promontory  the  diftant  hills  are  feen 
finely.  The  fhore  to  the  left,  here,  ap- 
pears peculiarly  beautiful,  for  half  a  dozen 
-inclofures  of  the  mofl:  elegant  verdure  rife 
from  the  water's  edge  among  floping  woods, 

and 


r  >79  ] 

and  oiFer  a  variety  of  colours  of  the  moft 
pidlurefque  hues.  From  hence  likewife 
you  look  back  on  Bannerig,  a  fine  culti- 
vated hill,  rifing  from  the  lake  in  a  mod 
pleafing  manner. 

Moving  from  this  end  of  the  ifland 
along  the  weft  coaft  of  it,  the  view  is  ex- 
tremely pidlurefque.  The  ftreight  is  broke 
by  three  iflands,  two  of  them  thickly  co- 
vered with  wood,  the  other  a  long  flip, 
fcattered  with  tall  upright  trees,  through 
the  ftems  of  which,  and  under  the  thick 
fhade  of  their  fpreading  tops,  the  water  is 
i^ctn  glittering  with  the  fun  beams  -,  a 
landfcape  truly  delicious. 

From  the  north  end  of  this  ifle,  fo  happy 
in  the  beauties  of  profpe6t,  the  views  are 
various,  and  fomeof  them  exquifite:  Look- 
ing towards  the  fouth,  you  command  a  pro- 
digious fine  view  of  the  lake,  fpreading  to 
the  right  and  left  behind  promontories,  one 
beyond  another,  in  a  glorioufiy  irregular 
flieet  of  water,  encircled  by  an  amphithe- 
atre of  hills,  in  the  nobleft  ftile.  To  the 
north  you  look  upon  another  fheet,  diffe- 
rent from  the  firft :  It  is  broke  by  a  clufter 
of  four  fmall  but  beautiful  iflands. 

N  2  Full 


t    i8°    ] 

Full  in  front  you  look  upon  a  nobk 
fvveep  of  mountains,  and  on  one,  in  par* 
ticular,  that  is  very  curious  :  It  is  of  a  cir- 
cular form,  rifing  out  of  a  vaft  hollow  a* 
mong  the  reft,  and  is  overtopped  by  them; 
romantic  in  the  higheft  degree.  A  little  to 
the  right  of  it,  you  command  one  of  the 
mod  noble  of  cultivated  hills.  It  is  inter- 
fedted  by  hedges,  trees,  and  fcattercd 
woods,  into  a  vafl  fweep  of  inclofures, 
which  reach  the  very  top  :  A  view  beau- 
tifully magnificent.  More  to  the  right, 
the  eye  is  delighted  with  the  moft  elegant 
waves  of  cultivated  inclofures,  that  can  be 
conceived,  rifing  to  the  view  in  the  moil 
pi(5turefque  varieties  of  landfcape,  and 
forcing  admiration  from  the  mofl  tafteleis 
of  mortals.  To  the  left,  a  vafl  range  of 
rocks  and  mountains  form  the  boundary  of 
the  lake,  and  project  into  it  in  the  boldeft 
manner. 

Sailing  from  this  noble  ifland  to  that  of 
Berkjhirey  a  little  hilly  wood  of  fcattered 
trees :  The  views  are  various,  rich,  and 
truly  pidurefquc  :  From  the  north  lide  of 
it  you  look  upon  a  fine  fheet  of  water,  to 
the  Great  IJland,  &c.  and  bounded  by  a 
noble  variety  of  fliore.     To  the  l«ft,  and 

in 


[     .8,     ] 

in  front,  high  ridges  of  hills  and  mountains: 
To  the  right,  moft  beautiful  waving  hills 
of  inclofuresj  fome  juft  rifing  enough  to 
ihew  their  hedges  diftin^lly,    and  others 
hanging  full  to  the  eye  j  beneath,  a  boun- 
dary of  rough  hills,  and  wild,  uncultivated 
ground.     To  the  left,  you  fee  Crow  IJland, 
which  appears  fine;  and  the  ferry- houfCf 
beneath  a  clump  of  trees,  on  the  point  of 
a  promontory,  jetting  into  the  water,  with 
an  effedt  really  exquilite.    To  the  eaft,  you 
look  againft  a  very  fine  bank  of  inclofures, 
moft  elegantly  fcattered  with  trees.     To 
the  fouth,  the  lake   is   loft  between  two 
promontories,     proje(5ting    into   it   againft 
each  other,  and  leaving  a  fine  ftrait  be- 
tween :    One    is    high    and    rocky ;    the 
other,  a  line   of  waving  wood  and  inclo-^- 
fures,  and  catch  beyond  it  the  diftant  hills, 
which  complete  the  view.     The  weftern 
profpedl  is  on  to  a  range  of  craggy  hills ; 
fome  moft  beautifully  fringed  with  hang- 
ing woods,  and  cut  in  the  middle  by  a  cul- 
tivated   wave    of    inclofures,    broken    by 
woods,    hedges,     clumps,    and    fcattered 
trees,  and  rifing  one  above  another,  in  the 
moft  pidturefque  irregularity  that  fancy  can 
fuppofe,     At  the  top,  a  farm-houfe,  un- 
N  3  der 


[     i82    ] 

der  a  clump  of  trees ;  the  whole  forming 
a  bird's  eye  landfcape  of  the  moft  delicious 
kind.  Nor  can  any  thing  be  finer  than  the 
hanging  woods  on  this  fide  of  the  lake, 
broken  by  grafs  inclofures  of  a  beautiful 
verdure. 

Sailing  acrofs  the  lake  from  Berkjlnre 
to  the  {hore  under  thefe  inclofures,  which 
are  called  Round  Table,  nothing  in  nature 
can  be  more  exquifite  than  the  view,  as 
you  move,  of  a  fine,  long,  grafs  inclo- 
fure,  at  the  water's  edge,  on  the  oppofite 
lliore, .  bounded  by  fine  woods,  except  to 
the  lake,  edged  with  fame  fp reading  trees, 
through  which  the  view  of  the  grafs  is 
truly  pid;urefque.  Other  waving  flopes 
of  inclofures,  to  the  right,  hang  to  the 
lake,  under  the  fhade  of  a  rough,  wild 
hill,  and  down  to  a  fliirting  of  wood,  on 
the  water's  edge,  in  the  fineft  manner. 
Behind,  the  rocky  cliff  of  Fournefs  Fells, 
has  a  noble  appearance,  crowned  with  a 
Iweep  of  wood. 

.  Sailing  under  the  weflern  (liore,  you 
command  moft  beautiful  landfcapes  on 
the  oppofite  one,  confifting  of  the  finefl 
hanks  of  cultivated  inclofures,  fcattered 
v/ith  trees,   clumps  of  wood,  fa^-m  houfes, 

&c^ 


[  i83  ] 
&;c.  and  hanging  to  the  water's  edge  In  the 
mofl  charming  variety  of  fituation;  the 
£elds  in  Ibme  places  dipping  in  the  very 
lake,  in  others  thick  woods  rifing  from  the 
water ;  fcenes  which  call  for  the  pencil  of  a 
genius  to  catch  graces  from  nature  beyond 
the  reach  of  the  moft  elaborate  art. 

Coming  to  Ling  Ho/m,  a  fmall  rocky 
ifland,  with  a  few  trees  on  it,  you  have  a 
double  view  of  the  two  fhores,  finely  con- 
trafted,  the  weftern  fpread  with  noble 
hanging  woods ;  and  the  eaftern  one  culti- 
vated hills,  waving  to  the  eye  in  the  finefl 
inequalities  of  furface.  The  diftant  hills  are 
alfo  feen  in  a  bold  flile  over  the  low  in- 
dlofures  of  Raw/m/ons  Na^,  a  promontory 
to  the  fouth. 

Landing  on  the  point  of  that  promontory 
the  view  is  very  noble,  it  commands  two 
glorious  fheets  of  water,  north  and  fouth, 
each  of  four  or  five  miles  in  length.  That 
to  the  fouth  is  bounded  in  general  by  rough 
woody  hills,  broken  in  a  few  fpots  by  little 
inclofures :  In  front  of  the  promontory,  fe- 
veral  very  beautiful  ones,  cut  by  irregu- 
lar fweeps  of  wood,  and  hanging  to  the 
water's  edge  in  the  fincft  manner  ^  the 
whole  crowned  with  craggy  tops  of  hills. 
N4  But 


[    >84    ] 

But  the  view  to  the  north  is  much  tho 
moft  beautiful.  Berkjhire  IJland  breaks  the 
£lieet  of  water  in  one  place,  and  adds  to  the 
pi6turefque  variety  of  the  fcene  without  in^ 
juring  its  noble  fimplicity.  Common  Nah^ 
a  promontory  from  the  eaft  {hore,  projeds 
into  it  in  another  place,  elegantly  variegated 
with  wood  and  inclofures,  vi^aving  over 
iloping  hiJls,  and  crowned  with  rough  un- 
cultivated ground.  One  inclofure  in  parti' 
CuUr  breaks  into  the  wood  in  the  moft. 
pi(^urefque  manner  imaginable.  This  ead 
of  the  lake  is  bounded  by  the  noble  hills  of 
cultivated  inclofures,  already  mentioned, 
which  are  viewed  from  hence  to  much  ad- 
vantage J  they  rife  from  the  (liore  with 
great  magnificence.  To  the  left  a  ridge 
of  hanging  woods,  fpread  over  wild  ro* 
mantic  ground,  that  breaks  into  bold  pro* 
jed:ions,  abrupt  and  fpirited,  contrailing  the 
elegance  of  the  oppofite  beautiful  fhore  iu^ 
the  fineft  manner. 

Having  thus  viewed  the  mofl  plealing 
objeds  from  thefe  points,  let  me  next  con- 
duct you  to  a  fpot,  where,  at  one  glance, 
you  command  them  all,  in  frefh  iituations, 
and  all  afluming  a  new  appearance.  For 
this  purpofe  you  return  to  the  village,  an4 

taking 


[    i85    1 

taking  the  bye  road  to  the  turnpike,  (not 
that  by  which  you  came)  mount  the  hill 
without  turning  your  head  (if  I  was  your 
guide  I  would  condudl  you  behind  a  fmall 
hill,  that  you  might  come  at  once  upon  the 
view)  till  you  almoft  gain  the  top,  when 
you  will  be  ftruck  with  aftoni(hment  at  the 
profpe(3:  fprcad  forth  at  your  feet,  which, 
if  not  the  moft  fuperlative  view  that  nature 
can  exhibit,  fhe  is  more  fertile  in  beauties 
than  the  reach  of  my  imagination  will  al- 
low me  to  conceive.  It  would  be  mere 
vanity  to  attempt  to  defcribe  a  fcene  which 
beggars  all  defcription,  but  that  you  may- 
have  fome  faint  idea  of  the  outlines  of  this 
wonderful  pi<5lure,  I  will  juft  give  the  par- 
ticulars of  which  it  conlifts. 

The  point  on  which  you  ftand  is  the  fide 
of  a  large  ridge  of  hills  that  form  the  eaftern 
boundaries  of  the  lake,  and  the  lituation 
high  enough  to  look  down  upon  all  the  ob- 
jedls :  A  circumftance  of  great  importance, 
and  vi'hich  painting  cannot  imitate:  In 
landfcapes,  you  are  either  on  a  level  with 
the  objects,  or  look  up  to  them;  the  painter 
cannot  give  the  declivity  at  your  feet,  which 
leffens  the  objeds  as  much  in  the  perpendi- 
cular line  as  in  his  horizontal  one. 

You 


[     '86     ] 

You  look  down  upon  a  noble  winding 
valley  of  about  twelve  miles  long,  every 
where  inclofed  with  grounds  which  rife  in 
a  very  bold  and  various  manner  j  in  fome 
places  bulging  into  mountains,  abrupt,  wild> 
and  uncultivated ;  in  others,  breaking  into 
rocks,  craggy,  pointed,  and  irregular :  Here, 
riling  into  hills  covered  with  the  nobleft 
woods,  prefenting  a  gloomy  brownnefs  of 
ihade,  almoft  from  the  clouds  to  the  reflec- 
tion of  the  trees  in  the  limpid  water  they 
fo  beautifully  fkirt :  There,  waving  in  glo- 
rious Hopes  of  cultivated  inclofures,  adorn- 
ed in  the  fweetefl  manner  with  every  ob- 
je£l  that  can  give  variety  to  art,  or  ele^ 
gance  to  nature;  trees,  woods,  villages, 
houfes,  farms,  fcattered  with  pidturefque 
confufion,  and  waving  to  the  eye  in  the 
moft  romantic  landfcapes  that  nature  can 
exhibit. 

This  valley,  fo  beautifully  inclofed,  is 
floated  by  the  lake,  which  fpreads  forth  to 
the  right  and  left  in  one  vaft  but  irregular 
expanfe  of  tranfparent  water.  A  more  no- 
ble objedl  can  hardly  be  imagined.  Its  im- 
mediate flioar  is  traced  in  every  variety  of 
line  that  fancy  can  imagine,  fometimes 
contradling  the  lake  into  the  appearance  of 

a  noble 


[    i87    ] 

gi  noble  winding  river ;  at  others  retiring 
from  it,  and  opening  large  fwelling  bays,  as 
if  for  navies  to  anchor  in;  promontories 
Ipread  with  woods,  or  fcattered  with  trees 
and  inclofures,  projed:ing  into  the  water 
in  the  mod  pidurcfque  flile  imaginable : 
rocky  points  breaking  the  fliore,  and  rear- 
ing their  bold  heads  above  the  water.  In 
a  word,  a  variety  that  amazes  the  be- 
holder. 

But  what  finifhes  the  fcene  with  an  ele- 
gance too  delicious  to  be  imagined,  is,  this 
beautiful  fheet  of  water  being  dotted  with 
no  lefs  than  ten  iflands,  diftindly  com- 
manded by  the  eye ;  all  of  the  moll:  be- 
witching beauty.  The  large  one  prefents 
a  waving  various  line,  which  rifes  from  the 
water  in  the  mod  pidurefque  inequalities 
of  furface  :  high  land  in  one  place,  low  in 
another;  clumps  of  trees  in  this  fpot,  fcat- 
tered ones  in  that ;  adorned  by  a  farm- 
houfe  on  the  water's  edge,  and  backed  with 
a  little  wood,  vycing  in  fimple  elegance 
with  Boromean  palaces :  Some  of  the  fmaller 
ifles  rifing  from  the  lake  like  little  hills  of 
wood,  fome  only  fcattered  with  trees,  and 
others  of  grafs  of  the  finefl  verdure;  a 
fnore  beautiful  variety  no  where  to  be  feen. 

Strain 


[    i88    ] 

Strain  your  imagination  to  command 
the  idea  of  fo  noble  an  expanfc  of  wa** 
ter  thus  glorioufly  environed  -,  fpotted  with 
iflands  more  beautiful  than  would  have  if* 
fued  from  the  pencil  of  the  happieft  painter. 
Pi<flure  the  mountains  rearing  their  ma-« 
jeftic  heads  with  native  fublimity ;  the  vaft; 
rocks  boldly  proje<fting  their  terrible  craggy 
points :  And  in  the  path  of  beauty,  the 
variegated  inclofures  of  the  mofl  charming 
verdure,  hanging  to  the  eye  in  every  pic- 
turefquc  form  that  can  grace  a  landfcape, 
with  the  moft  exquifite  touches  of  /a  belle 
nature  :  If  you  raife  your  fancy  to  fome* 
thing  infinitely  beyond  this  afTemblage  of 
rural  elegancies,  you  may  have  a  faint  no- 
tion of  the  unexampled  beauties  of  this 
raviihing  lancifcape. 

As  I  next  refume  intelligence  of  huf- 
bandry  with  the  county  of  Lancajiery  I 
fhall  here  conclude  this  letter, 

I  am.  Sir,   0?^. 


LET- 


L   ih  ] 


LETTER   xvirr. 

-nETURNING  to  Kendall  took  the 
road  to  Burtcn,  pafling  through  a 
country  various  in  relpedt  of  culture : 
Around  that  town,  particularly  shout  Ho/m^, 
their  foil  is  a  light  loam  on  a  lime  ftone, 
withfomeof  fand,  letts  from  6  s,  8^/.  to  3/. 
an  acre  j  average  about  a  guinea. 

Farms  from  20/.  to  80/.  a  year. 
As  to  their  courfes  they  did  not  ufe  t4 
fallow  at  all,  but  nov^  they  are, 

1.  Fallow 

2.  Wheat 

3.  Barley 

3.  Oats  and  then  let  it  lie  to  graze 
itfelf. 
And, 

1.  Fallow 

2.  Wheat 

3.  Barley 

4.  Clover 

5.  Wheat 

6.  Oats 

7.  Barley 

8.  Oats, 


[     190    ] 
8.  Oats,   and  then  lye  as  before j 
for  this  thefe  flovens  defer ve  to 
be  han2:ed. 

Of  wheat  they  fow  two  bufhels,  about 
Michaelmas  J  and  reap  from  twelve  to  fifteen. 
For  barley  they  plough  twice,  fow  not  quite 
three  bufhels,  about  the  end  of  April  or 
the  beginning  of  May,  and  reckon  the 
average  produce  at  twenty.  They  plough 
but  once  for  oats,  fow  four  bulhels  about 
the  time  of  barley  foWing ;  the  crop  twenty- 
four.  They  cultivate  fome  beans,  plough 
once,  fow  two  bufhels  in  March  or  April, 
never  hoe,  but  gain  on  an  average  twenty- 
three  bufhds.  They  plough  once  for 
peafe,  fow  a  buihel  and  half,  and  gain  from 
none  at  all  to  fifteen  buflaels.  For  rye  they 
likewife  give  but  one  earth,  fow  two 
bufhels ',  the  crop  from  twelve  to  fifteen. 

They  ftir  twice  for  turneps,  know  no- 
thing of  hoeing;  the  average  value  per 
acre,  5  /.  or  6  /.  Thomas  Richard/on  has 
had  crops  that  he  would  not  take  12/.  an 
acre  for  ;  but  fuch  extravagant  prices  are 
not  in  the  leaft  owing  to  good  hufbandry, 
but  the  fcarcity  of  the  commodity.  They 
ufe  them  for  cows,  flieep,  ^c.  &c.  Clo- 
ver is  not  very  common,  but  they  fow  it 

with 


With  barley ;  they  get  1 5  Cwf.  of  hay  of^ 
it  the  firft  crop,  and  10  or  12  Cwt.  the 
fecond ;  but  fometimes  they  feed  one  crop. 

Their  culture  of  potatoes  is  as  follows  : 
They  dung  the  lay  ground  well;  lay  the 
Dices  (18  bufhels)  on  the  dung,  and  then 
dig  trenches  two  fpits  wide,  and  cover  the 
letts,  which  are  laid  feven  inches  fquare, 
with  the  turfs  and  moulds  that  rife :  If 
weeds  come  they  are  drawn  out  by  hand. 
The  crop,  upon  an  average,  180  bufhels 
per  acre.  Barley  they  fow  after  them, 
and  get  thirty  bufhels  an  acre.  This  is 
the  lazy-bed  way. 

As  to  manure,  they  can  at  prefent  boaft 
a  little,  for  lime  is  in  ufe  among  them, 
but  it  has  been  only  for  two  or  three  years ; 
they  lay  90  or  loo  bufhels  an  acre  on  to 
fallow  for  wheat,  cofts  4!^.  perbu(he\; 
they  do  not  pare  and  burn ;  ftack  their  hay 
in  houfes,  but  know  nothing  of  chopping 
their  ftubbles. 

Good  grafs  letts  from  2  /.  to  3  /.  They 
ufe  it  chiefiy  for  the  dairy :  An  acre  and  a 
quarter,  or  an  acre  and  an  half,  they  reckon 
fufficient  for  the  fummer  feed  of  a  cow ; 
and  an  acre  to  keep  four  or  five  flieep. 
Their  breed  of  cattle  is  the  long  horned. 

The 


[      192      ] 

The  product  of  a  cow,  61.  6s.  to  y/.  They 
give  four  gallons  of  milk  per  day,  on  an 
average.  To  ten  cows,  they  keep  two  or 
three  fwine.  The  winter  food  hay  and 
ftraw;  of  the  firft,  about  an  acre  and 
half.  The  fummer  joift,  35  j.  A  dairy- 
maid, they  reckon,  can  take  care  of  eight 
cows  ',  calves  fuck  from  five  to  fix  weeks, 
both  for  rearing  and  butcher. 

Sheep  they  reckon,  I  know  not  for  what 
reafon,  hurtful  among  milch  cows  5  their 
flocks  are  from  twenty  to  one  hundred  and 
fifty,  the  profit  5  j.  or  6  /.  per  fheep ;  keep 
them  all  the  year  in  the  field ;  the  medium 
of  their  fleeces  6  of  7  /L  from  3  ^.  to  5  J, 
per  lb. 

In  the  tillage  of  their  lands  they  reckon 
four  horfes  necefiary  for  fifty  acres  of  ara- 
ble land,  ufc  three  or  four  in  a  plough,  and 
do  three  rood  a  day.  The  annual  expence 
of  keeping  a  horfe  they  reckon  6  /.  They 
break  up  their  fl:ubbles  for  a  fallow  in 
March  ;  plough  in  general  about  five  or 
fix  inches  deep  ;  the  common  price  8  s.  an 
acre. 

Two  {hillings  a  day  the  hire  of  a  cart 
and  horfe. 

One 


t   19:^  ] 

One  hundred  pounds  they  reckon  fufH- 
cient  for  ftocking  a  farm  of  50  /.  a  year. 

Tythes  are  generally  taken  in  kind. 

Poor  rates  '^d.  in  the  pound  ;  they  fpla 
flax  and  wool.  Mod  of  them  drink  tea 
twice  a  day. 

Eftates  are  either  large,  or  under  100/. 
a  year  :  Very  few  gentlemen  of  2,  3,  4, 
or  500/.  a  year. 

The  farmers  do  not  carry  their  corn 
above  three  miles. 

The  following  flcetchcs  of  farms   will 
give  an  idea  of  their  general  ceconomy. 
^^  acres  in  all 
50  arable 

4  horfes 
10  cows 
4  young  cattle 
2  fatting  beads 
I  boy 
I  labourer. 
Another, 

70  acres  In  all 
50  arable 
£.65  rent 
5  horfes 
12  cows 
Vol.  III.  O  2  fat- 


[     194    ] 

2  fatting  beads 

6  young  cattle 
30  fheep 

I  man 

I  boy 

I  maid 

1  labourer. 
Another, 

35  acres  in  all 
30  arable 
X.  3  5  rent 

4  horfes 

4  cows 

6  young  cattle 

I  boy 

I  maid. 
Another, 

46  acres  In  all 
38  arable 
X.  40  rent 

4  horfes 

6  cows 

4  young  cattle 
20  fheep 

I  man. 

LABOUR. 

In  harveft,   i  s.  a  day  and  board. 

In  hay  time,  ditto.  In 


t    «9S    ] 

In  winter,  6  d.  and  ditto. 
Reaping  per  acre,  Sj.  to  8  j".  6  d^ 
Ditching,  6l  d.  3.  rood. 
^Head-man's  wages,  9/.  to  10/. 
^ext  ditto,  6  /. 

Boy  of  ten  or  twelve  years,  3  /. 
Dairy  maid,  4  /.  4  j. 
Other  ditto,  50J.  to  3  /.  3  j. 
Women  per  day  in  harveft,  8  d.  and  board. 
In  hay  time,  6  d.  and  ditto* 
In  winter,  4  d.  and  ditto. 

IMPLEMENTS,    &c. 

No  waggons. 

A  cart,  4  /.  to  6  /. 

A  plough,   1 5  J-. 

A  harrow,  y  s,  6  d. 

Few  rollers. 

A  fcythe,  2  j.  3  d* 

A  fpade,   2  j.  6  ^. 

Laying  a  fhare  and  coulter,  2  j, 

Shoeing,  u.  4<^. 

PROVISIONS,   &a 

Bread — Oat  lefs  than  i  d. 
Cheefe,   3  d. 
Butter,   61  d,     18  02;, 
Beef,    21  d. 

O  z  Mutton, 


[     196    ] 

Mutton,  2d, 

Veal,   2  d. 

Pork,    ^d. 

Milk,  I  a  quart  new,   three   quarts  fkim 

for  \d. 
Potatoes,    8  ^.  a  peck. 
Candles,  t\  d. 
Soap,  6  ^. 

Labourer's  houfe  rent,  15^.  to  30  /. 
firing,   2  5  J".  1030/. 

Lancajler  is  a  flourifhi ng  town,  well 
fituated  for  trade,  of  which  it  carries  on  a 
pretty  brifk  one ;  poiTefling  about  1 00  fail 
of  fhips,  fome  of  them  of  a  good  burthen, 
for  the  African  and  American  trades ;  the 
only  manufadlory  in  the  town  is  that  ot 
cabinet  ware;  here  are  many  cabinet- 
makers, who  work  up  the  mahogany 
brought  home  in  their- own  (hips,  and  re- 
export it  to  the  Wejl  IndieSy  &c.  &c.  It 
is  a  town  that  increafes  in  buildings;  hav- 
ing many  new  piles,  much  fuperior  to  the 
old  ftreets,  and  handfomely  raifed  of  white 
flone  and  flate. 

At  Kabers  the  foil  is  chiefly  clay,  but 
they  have  fome  light  loam  and  fome  fand; 
lets  at  an  average  for  ij  s.  an  acre.  Farms 
from  10/.  to  70/.  a  year. 

Their 


[     197    ] 
Their  courfe, 

1.  Fallow 

2.  Barley 

3.  Oats 

4.  Fallow 

5- 


Wheat 

6.  Beans 

7.  Oats. 

About  Cockcram  they  break  up  and  fow, 

1.  Peafe 

2.  Barley 

3.  Oats. 

For  wheat  they  plough  three  times,  fow 
three  bufhels  and  a  half,  often  in  February 
and  Marchy  and  get  about  twenty-fix  in  re- 
turn. For  barley  they  ftir  three  times,  fow 
three  bulhels  about  May  day,  and  gain 
thirty  in  return.  They  give  but  one 
ploughing  for  oats,  fow  fix  bufhels,  and  gain 
forty  in  return.  They  fi:ir  but  once  for 
beans,  fow  four  bufhels,  broad  caft,  the  be- 
ginning of  Marchy  and  reckon  the  ave- 
rage produce  at  thirty-fix  bufliels.  For 
peafe  they  plough  but  once,  fow  three 
bufiiels,  at  the  time  with  beans ;  the  crop 
thirty  bufhels.  For  rye  they  plough  thrice, 
fow  three  bufliels,  and  gain  four  quarters  ia 
return. 

O  3  But 


[    198    ] 

But  few  turneps  cultivated  :  The  method 
is  to  plough  twice  for  them,  never  hoe ;  the 
average  value  8  /.  Ufe  them  for  beafts 
and  fheep. 

For  potatoes  they  plough  thrice,  dung 
the  land  well,  and  dibble  them  in  eight  or 
ten  inches  fquare;  they  afterwards  weed 
them  by  hand  t  The  crop  from  lOO  to  200 
bufnels,  at  from  i  j.  to  i  j-.  4  ^.  a  bufliel : 
They  fow  v/heat  after  them,  and  get  very 
fine  crops,  much  fuperior  to  their  com- 
mon ones. 

As  to  manures,  marie  is  the  grand  one, 
which  is  found  under  all  this  country,  and 
generally  within  fixteen  or  twenty  inches 
of  the  furface;  it  lies  in  beds,  many  of 
them  of  a  vaU:  depth,  the  bottoms  of  fome 
pits  not  being  found :  It  is  white,  and  as 
foft  and  foapy  as  butter.  They  lay  about 
an  hundred  two  horfe  cart  loads  to  an  acre, 
but  fome  farmers  lefs,  on  to  lays  and  flub-, 
bles.  It  lafts  a  good  improvement  for 
twenty  years ;  cods  about  4  /.  10 s.  an  acre. 
Their  hay  they  ftack  in  houfes. 

Good  grafs  letcs  for  26s.  an  acre;  is 
ufed  chiefly  for  dairying ;  one  acre  and  a 
quarter  they  reckon  enough  for  a  cow  in 
fjmmer,  and  one  acre  to  four  flieep.    They 

marie 


[     199     ] 

marie  a  good  deal,  and  find  it  a  fine  Im- 
provement, making  the  grafs  fatten  well, 
and  excellent  for  milk.  Their  breed  of 
cattle  the  long  horned.  They  reckon  the 
profit  of  a  cow  at  4  /.  and  a  middling  one 
to  yield  fix  gallons  of  milk  a  day.  The 
winter  food  ftraw  and  hay,  of  the  latter  an 
acre  and  quarter  :  Keep  about  a  pig  to  two 
cows  ;  and  reckon  a  dairy  maid  to  ten  or 
twelve.  The  fummer  joifl  is  30  j.  keep 
them  in  winter  in  the  houfe. 

Their  fwine  they  fat  to  4/.  10s.  or  5/. 
value. 

Their  flocks  of  fheep  rife  from  twenty 
to  400,  having  fome  commons  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood ;  and  reckon  the  profit  at  7  j.  6^. 
or  8  J-.  a  head  :  Keep  them  all  the  year  on 
the  commons :  Their  fleeces  weigh,  at  a 
medium,  3/^. 

In  tillage  they  account  fix  horfes  necef- 
fary  for  fifty  acres  of  arable  land ;  ufe  fix 
in  a  plough,  and  do  an  acre  a  day.  The 
annual  expence per  horfe  4/.  i^s.  None 
of  them  cut  ftrav/  into  chafl*.  The  time 
of  breaking  up  their  ftubbles  for  a  fallow 
is  Candlemas ;  plough  generally  four  or  five 
inches  deep.  The  hire  of  a  cart  and  three 
horfes  is  4  J.  6d.  a  day. 

O  4  They 


[       200       ] 

They  reckon  150/.   neceiTary  for  hiring 
and  ftocking  a  farm  of  50  /.  a  year. 
Tythes  compounded  for. 
Rates  3/  in  the  pound.     The  employ* 
ment   of  the  poor  women   and  children 
Spinning  flax. 

Leafes  are  both  for  terms  of  years  and 
for  lives. 

The  farmers  carry  their  corn  fourteen 
miles. 

The   following   are   the   particulars  of 
fome  farms  in  this  country. 
45  acres  in  all 
13  arable 
X- 50  rent 
4  horfes 
4  cows 

6  young  cattle 
3  fatting  beads 
12  flieep 

1  man 

2  maids 

I  labourer. 
1  plough 

3  carts. 
Another, 

62  acres  in  all 
J 6  arable 


[      201       ] 

46  grals 
£,'^1  rent 

5  liorfes 
10  cows 

8  young  cattle 

3  fatting  bcafls 
30  fheep 

I  man 

I  maid 

1  boy 

2  ploughs 
2  carts. 

Another, 

70  acres  in  all 
30  arable 
40  grafs 
jC- 75  rent 
8  horfes 
12  cows 
I  o  young  cattle 
5  fatting  beafls 
40  fheep 
I  man 
I  boy 
I  maid 
I  labourer 

3  ploughs 

4  carts. 

LABOUR, 


I      202      3 

LABOUR. 

In  harvefl,  is.  and  board. 
In  hay  time,  ditto. 
In  winter,  6d.  and  ditto. 
Reaping  wheat,  6  s.  6  d, 

' barley,  6j. 

■ oats,  5J-. 

beans,  6  s. 

Mowing  grafs,  2s.  and  ale. 

Ditching,  6  ^.  to  8  d.  per  rood. 

Firfl:  man's  wages,  9/. 

Next  ditto,  5  /. 

Boy  of  ten  or  twelve  years,  40  s. 

A  dairy  maid,  3  /. 

Other  ditto,  40  s.  to  50  s. 

Women  per  day  in  harveft,  8  d.  and  board. 

In  hay  time,  bd.  and  ditto. 

In  winter,  4/  and  ditto. 

They  reckon  the  value  of  a  man's  board, 
wafliing,  and  lodging,  3  j.  6  ^.  a  week. 

I  M  P  L  E  M  E  N  T  S,   ef^. 

No  waggons. 
A  cart,  8  /.  to  9  /. 
A  plough,  151. 
A  harrow,  1 1  j-. 
A  roller,  10^.  6  d. 

A  fcythe. 


[      203       ] 

A  fcythe,  2  s.  t  d. 
A  fpade,  3  s. 
Laying  a  fhare,   8  d. 
coulter,  %d, 

P  R  O  V  I  S  I  O  N  S,  ^^, 

Bread — oat,  iilb.  for  is, 

Cheefe,  3</. 

Butter,  8  ^.  1 6  oz. 

Beef,  2\d. 

Mutton,  z\d. 

Pork,  4^. 

Milk,  i^.  a  pint. 

Potatoes,    3  ^.  a  peck. 

Turneps,  1 1  d.  ditto. 

Candles,  71^. 

Soap,  6  ^. 

Labourer's  houfe  rent,  20  J. 

, Firing,  20s, 

Tools,  loi.  t)d. 

Around  Garfiang  are  feveral  variations 
which  deferve  noting.  The  foils  are  clay, 
black  moory,  on  clay,  and  light  loam; 
letts  on  an  average  at  1 7  i.  an  acre.  Farms 
irom  10  /.  to  150/.  a  year.  Their  courfe, 
I.  Fallow 

z.  Wheat 

3,  Beans 


[       204       ] 

2»  Beans 
4.  Barley 

5  Oats,  and  then  left  to  graze  it- 
fdfy  and  they  afiured  me  very  gravely  the 
grafs  was  excellent:    They  plough   thrice 
for  wheat,  fow  three  bufliels  a  fortnight  be- 
fore   MkhaehnaSy    and    reckon    thirty- five 
bufhels  the   average  produce.      For  barley 
they  ftir  from  one  to  four  times,   fow  three 
bulliels^^r  acre  the  end  oi  Aprils  and  gain 
thirty   bufhels    an    acre.     For    oats    they 
plough  but  once,  fow  feven  bufhels  an  acre 
in  March i  and  gain  on  an  average  forty-five 
bufliels.     They  ftir  but  once  for  beans,  fow 
four  bulhels  and  a  half,   broad  caft,  both 
under  furrow,   and  above,   the  end  of  Fe^ 
bruary  or  beginning  of  March  ;   never  hoc 
them :  They  gain  thirty  bulliels.     Sow  nei- 
ther peafe  nor  rye,  and  fcarce  any  turneps. 
Clover  with  both  barley  and  oats  \  and  ge- 
nerally mow  it  for  hay. 

For  potatoes  they  dig  all  the  land  nine 
inches  deep,  and  then  dung  it  well  3  dibble 
in  the  fetts  nine  inches  afunder;  reckon  a 
peck  to  let  a  perch  of  tw^enty-one  feet : 
They  hand-weed  them,  and  gain  upon  an 
average  three  bufnels  and  a  half  per  perch, 

or 


[     205     ] 
or  450  biiil:ie"!s/'^r  acre ;  after  them  they  Tow 
corn  of  all  forts,  and  get  great  crops. 

Marie  is  their  principal  manure,  both 
white,  black,  blue,  fandy,  and  fome  Ihell 
marie.  They  fometimes  find  perfect  cockle 
and  periwinkle  fhells,  nine  yards  deep,  in 
beds  of  marie.  The  furface  is  from  one  to 
four  feet  of  thicknefs  above  it :  Twenty- 
three  fquare  yards  does  an  acre.  It  is 
quite  foft  and  foapy.  The  land  will  be  for 
€ver  the  better  for  it :  It  does  beft  on  light 
foils.  The  marie  hufoandry  here  is  to 
plough  three  years,  and  let  it  lie  three. 
They  find  a  fecond,  and  even  a  third  marl- 
ing, to  anfwer  well :  The  average  expence 
about  4/.  per  acre. 

Lime  they  alfo  ufe:  Lay  50  windles^fr 
acre,  at  is.  4^.  pervnndXo. ,  and  fometimes 
up  to  80  and  iQO;  the  expence  to  5/. 
and  6/.  ioj.  per^cvQ;  lafts  generally  four 
or  five  years  in  great  heart ;  but,  with  very 
good  management,  for  twenty  years. 

Good  grafs  letts  from  3c  j-.  to  35J.  an 
acre,  they  ufe  it  chiefly  for  cows,  and  rec- 
kon an  acre  and  a  quarter  fufficient  for  the 
fummer  feed  of  a  cow,  and  four  fheep  to 
the  acre.  They  manure  their  paftures 
with  both  marie  and  lime.     The  breed  of 

their 


[      206      ] 

their  cattle  long  horned.  And  it  will  not 
here  be  amifs  to  remark,  that  Lancajhirc 
is  famous  for  this  long  horned  breed,  fo 
that  cows,  which  come  of  thorough  bred 
bulls  (and  they  are  very  curious  in  their 
breed)  will  fell  at  very  high  prices,  up  to 
20  and  30/.  a  cow,  if  they  promife  well 
for  producing  good  bulls,  which  fometimes 
fell  for  100/.  or  200/.  a  bull. 

They  fat  their  oxen  to  forty  and  fixty 
Hone. 

Their  fwine,  in  common,  to  twenty 
flone  :  One  in  particular,  to  thirty. 

They  reckon  the  produtft  of  a  cow  from 
3  /.  I  o  J-.  to  4  /.  Keep  fcarce  any  fwine 
the  more  upon  account  of  their  dairies. 
Feed  their  cows  in  winter  upon  ftraw  and 
hay ;  and  reckon  an  acre  of  the  latter  ne- 
ceiTary.  The  fummer  joift  20  J",  to  30  j. 
Keep  them  in  both  field  and  houfe  in  the 
winter. 

Their  flocks  of  fheep  rife  from  twenty  to 
two  hundred,  calculate  the  profit  at  4/.  or 
5  s.  keep  them  in  both  winter  and  fpring 
on  the  commons :  The  mean  weight  per 
fleece  3  lb. 

They  reckon  twelve  or  thirteen  horfes 
neceflary  for  the  management  of  100  acres 

of 


[       207       ] 

of  arable  land.  Ufe  four  in  a  plough,  and 
do  an  acre  a  day.  The  annual  expence  of 
keeping  horfes  5/.  10  s.  each.  The  fum- 
merjoift  30 j-.  to  50/.  and  3J-.  6d.  a  week. 
They  break  up  their  ftubbles  for  a  fallow 
in  March;  plough  in  general  fix  inches 
deep.  The  price  per  acre  8  s»  Know  no- 
thing of  chopping  ftraw  for  chaff.  Hire 
of  a  cart,  three  horfes  and  a  driver,  4^.  a 
day. 

In  the  flocking  of  farms  500/.  is  necefTary 
to  flock  a  grazing  one  of  1 50  A  a  year ;  but 
200/.  fufHcient  for  the  common  ones  of 
100  /.  a  year. 

Land  fells  at  from  thirty  to  forty  years 
purchafe. 

Tythes  both  gathered  and  compounded 
for. 

Poor  rates  in  Garftang  5^.  in  the  pound; 
in  villages  2  d.  They  fpin  cotton  and  fiax. 
All  drink  tea. 

But  few  fmall  eflates. 

The  farmers  carry  their  corn  twelve 
miles. 

Many  leafes  for  three  lives  \  and  fome 

on  terms  of  years. 

The 


[    2°8    ] 

The  following  particulars  of  farms  will 
(hew  the  general  oeconomy  of  the  country. 
200  acres  in  all 
70  arable 
130  grafs 
£,  1 80  rent 
12  horfes 
1  o  cows 

8  fatting  beafts 
25  young  cattle 
50  flieep 

2  men 
2  boys 
2  maids 
2  labourers. 
Another, 

160  acres  in  all 
60  arable 
100  grafs 
£.  140  rent 

9  hories 
15  cows 

1 8  young  cattle 
4  fatting  beads 
200  fheep   (common  right) 

1  man 

2  maids 

3  ^oy^ 


[       209       ] 

3  boys 
2  labourers. 
Another, 

1 1  o  acres  in  all 
50  arable 
60  grafs 
X.85  rent 
8  horfes 
6  cows 

15  young  cattle 
2  fatting  beafts 
26  fheep 
I  man 

1  maid 

2  boys 

I  labourer. 

LABOUR. 

In  harveft,  is.  a.  day  and  board. 
In  hay-time,  10^,  and  ditto. 
In  winter,  6  d.  and  ditto. 
Reaping  wheat,  6  s. 

barley,  5  j.  6^. 

— oats,  5  J-.  6  //. 

beans,  y  s.  to  8j.  6d, 

Ditching,  3^.  to  5^. 
Firft  man's  wages,   10/. 
Next  ditto,  7  /, 

Vol.  Ill,  P  Boy 


k 


[      2IO      ] 

Boy  of  ten  or  twelve  years,  3S  j. 

Dairymaid,  3/.  los. 

Other  ditto,  3  /. 

Women  per  day.  In  harvefl,  6d.  and  board. 

In  hay-time,  5  ^.  and  ditto. 

In  winter,  4^.  and  ditto. 

IMPLEMENTS,  &c. 

Scarce  any  waggons,  but  coming  into  ufe 

llowly, 
A  cart,  1 2  /. 
A  plough,  20s, 
A  harrow,  ioj. 
No  rollers. 
A  fey  the,  3^.  6^. 
A  fpade,   3  s. 
Shoeing,  is,  ^d, 

P  R  O  V  I  S  I  O  N  S,  ^^. 

Bread — Oat,  |  and  id.  per  Ik 

Cheefe,  3^. 

Butter,  yd,  16  oz. 

Beef,  3  d. 

Mutton,  3  d. 

Pork,  3  d. 

Candles,  6ld, 

Soap,  6d, 

Labourer's 


[       2"       ] 

Labourer's  houfe-rent,  15  j.  to  40  x. 
' firing,  30  J. 

BUILDING. 

Oak  timber,  is.  6  J.  to  3 x. 

Artl,    I  J".  4  <r/. 

Elm,  I J-.  4  ^. 

Soft  woods,  6  J. 

Mafon  per  day,    i  s.  6d.  and  beer. 

Carpenter,  ij-.  and  ditto. 

Walling,  ']  d.  2i  yard  the  workmanfhip. 

From  Garjlang  to  Wigan  land  letts 
from  1 5  J-,  to  3/.  an  acre,  average  25  J", 
and  farms  rife  from  30  /.  to  100  /.  a  year. 

From  Wigan  to  Warrington  land  from 
15/.  to  3/.  10  J-.  and  farms  15/.  to  100/. 
a  year.  At  Warrington  the  manufadures 
of  fail-cloth  and  facking  are  very  confi- 
derable.  The  firft  is  fpun  by  women  and 
girls,  who  earn  about  2^.  a  day.  It  is 
then  bleached,  which  is  done  by  men,  who 
earn  10  s.  a  weeks  after  bleaching  it  is 
wound  by  women,  whofe  earnings  are  2x. 
6d.  a  week;  next  it  is  warped  by  men, 
who  earn  7  j.  a  week ;  and  then  ftarched, 
the  earnings  loj-.  t  d.  a  week.  The  laft 
operation  is  the  weaving,  in  which  the  men 
P  2  earn 


[      212      ] 

earn  gs,  the  women  £s.  and  boys  3/.  6</. 
a  week. 

The  fpinners  in  the  facking  branch  earn 
6  J-,  a  week,  women  j  then  it  is  wound  on 
bobbins  by  women  and  children,  whofe 
earnings  are  4^.  a  day;  then  the  ftarchers 
take  it,  they  earn  6  j.  a  week ;  after  which 
it  is  wove  by  men,  at  9  j.  a  week.  The 
fail-cloth  employs  about  300  weavers,  and 
the  facking  150;  and  they  reckon  twenty 
fpinners  and  two  or  three  other  hands  to 
every  weaver. 

During  the  war  the  fail- cloth  branch 
was  very  brifk,  grew  a  little  faint  upon  the 
peace,  but  is  now  and  has  been  for  fbme 
time  pretty  well  recovered,  though  not  to 
be  fo  good  as  in  the  war.  The  facking 
manufacture  was  better  alfo  in  the  war; 
but  is  always  briik. 

The  fpinners  never  ftand  ilill  for  want  of 
work ;  they  always  have  it  if  they  pleafe ; 
but  weavers  fometimes  are  idle  for  want  of 
yarn,  which,  conlidering  the  number  of 
poor  within  reach,  (the  fpijiners  of  the 
facking  live  chiefly  in  CheJI:ire)  is  melan- 
choly to  think  of. 

Here 


[      213      ] 

Here  is  like  wife  a  fmall  pin-manufadory, 
which  employs  two  or  300  children, 
who  earn  from  is.  to  2  s.  a  week. 

Another  of  fhoes  for  exportation,  that 
employs  four  or  500  hands  (men,)  who 
earn  9  j.  a  week. 

PROVISIONS,    &c. 

Bread — oat  and  barley  mixed. 

Butter,  yl  J.  16  oz. 

Cheefe,   3 1  ^. 

Mutton,    3<^. 

Beef,   2^' 

Veal,   3  J. 

Pork,  4^. 

Bacon,  6d. 

Milk,  I  ^.  a  half  pint. 

Potatoes,  ^i  d.  a  peck. 

Poor's  houfe  rent,  20  s.  to  30  s. 

■■ firing,  16  s. 

Upon  the  whole  thefe  manufa<n:ures  are 
very  advantageous,  as  they  employ  above 
1 1,000  hands. 

At   Bowls,    between    Warrington   and 

Prefcot,  the  foils  are  clay  and  rich  loam, 

letts  from    loj-.  to  25J".  an  acre.    Farms 

P  3  from 


[       214      ] 

from     20  i.    to     80/.    a    year.      The*? 
courfes, 

1.  Fallow 

2.  Wheat 

3.  Oats. 
Alfo, 

1.  Fallow 

2.  Wheat 

3.  Oats. 

4.  Clover. 

Of  wheat  they  get  fixteen  bufhels  per 
acre ;  oats  twenty-five,  and  beans  fixteen. 
Their  principal  manure  is  marie;  lay  on  an 
acre  two  or  three  rood,  at  eight  fquare 
yards  each,  cofts  3/.  an  acre,  and  lafts  good 
feven  or  eight  years  :  Ufe  it  chiefly  for  clay 
foils.  Lime  they  lay  on  warm  dry  lands, 
1 2  5  bufhels  per  acre,  cofts  3  /.  10  s.  or  4  /. 
They  plough  up  their  ftubbles  at  Candle- 
mas for  a  fallow.  The  produce  of  a  cow 
they  reckon  at  3/. 

The  following  are  the  particulars  of 
fome  farms  in  this  neighbourhood. 

40  acres  in  all 
12  arable 
28  grafs 
^.50  rent 

3  horfes 


[   2's  3 

3  horfes 

4  cows 

6  young  cattle 

I  maid. 
Another, 

65  acres  in  all 
20  arable 
45  g^^^s 
X.58  rent 

4  horfes 

6  cows 

6  young  cattle 
20  fheep 

I  man 

I  boy 

I  maid. 

Another, 

90  acres  in  all 
30  arable 
60  grafs 
^.85  rent 
6  horfes 
10  Cows 
1 3  young  cattle 
20  flieep 
I  man 
I  maid 
1  boy. 

P4  The 


[    2i6    ] 

The  town  of  Liverpool  is  too  famous  in 
the  trading  world  to  allow  me  to  pafs  it 
without  viewing  :  I  wanted  to  be  informed 
of  a  few  particulars  relative  to  the  (hipping, 
imports,  exports,  and  rife  and  fall  of  their 
commerce,  a  little  of  which  I  gained,  tho' 
by  no  means  what  I  wilhed.  I  walked 
over  the  town  for  a  view  of  the  publick 
buildings,  &c.  the  following  are  the  mi- 
nutes I  took. 

The  exchange  is  a  quadrangular  build- 
ing furrounding  a  court,  which  is  inclofed 
by  a  double  row  of  Tiifcan  pillars,  and  over 
them  another  of  Corintkia?t  ones ;  but  the 
area  is  fo  fnal],  that  it  has  more  the  ap- 
pearance of  a  well  than  the  court  of  an  edi- 
fice. In  this  building  is  the  aflembly-room, 
fixty-five  feet  by  twenty-five,  handfomely 
fitted  up ;  but  the  mufic-gallery  at  one  end 
is  a  mere  over-grown  fhelf ;  the  common 
blunder  in  nine  alTembly- rooms  out  of 
ten.  The  card  room  is  prepofterous ;  a 
narrow  flip  of  about  eleven  feet  wide  j  fo 
that  LUlipiittan  card  tables  muft  be  made 
on  purpofe  for  the  room,  or  no  paiTage  re- 
main around  them  for  foedlators.  From 
the  cupola  on  the  top  of  the  building  is  a 
very  fine  view  of  the  town. 

The 


[      217      ] 

The  new  church,  dedicated  to  St.  Fault 
is  a  building  that  does  credit  to  the  town  : 
It  (lands  in  the  centre  of  a  fquare,  fo  that 
you  may  view  it  to  much  better  advantage 
than  its  namefake  at  London  j  but  though 
handfome  in  feveral  refpefts,  yet  will  it  by 
no  means  ftand  fb  well  the  telt  of  examina- 
tion. The  cupola  is  by  no  means  ftriking ; 
it  does  not  rife  in  a  bold  flile  -,  its  being 
ribbed  into  an  o6logon  is  difadvantageous ; 
nor  is  there  fimplicity  enough  in  the  lan- 
tern. There  is  a  great  heavinefs  in  the 
breadth  of  the  fpace  between  the  capitals 
of  the  pillars  and  the  cornice.  Within 
there  is  a  central  circular  area  of  forty  feet 
diameter,  inclofed  by  pillars  of  the  Ionic 
order :  There  is  much  lightnefs,  and  a 
limple  elegance  in  it  that  is  pleafing;  but 
all  hurt  by  the  abfurdity  of  the  fquare  cor- 
nices above  the  pillars,  which  projed:  fo 
much  as  to  be  quite  difgufling.  This 
church  was  raifed  at  the  expence  of  the 
parifli,  and  coil  i  2,000  /. 

But  the  glory  of  Liverpool  is  the  docks 
for  the  flipping,  which  are  much  fuperior 
to  any  mercantile  ones  in  Britain :  One 
very  fine  new  one,  of  a  circular  form,  is 
finiihcd,  and  defended  by  a  pier,  all  excel- 
lently 


[     2-8     ] 

lently  well  faced  with  flone,  and  pcrfcdly 
fecure  from  ftorms.  Out  of  this  is  an  en- 
trance into  another,  called  the  New  Dock, 
now  executing,  of  a  large  lize,  capable  of 
containing  feveral  hundred  fail,  and  faced 
in  the  fame  manner  all  round  with  large 
ftone  :  Out  of  this  is  to  be  a  palTage  into 
another  very  capacious  one,  called  the  Dry 
Pier,  and  this  again  leads  into  two  others, 
called  the  Old  and  South  Docks-,  and  like- 
wife  has  an  entrance  by  the  river  from  the 
fea :  Into  this  like  wife  open  three  very 
noble  docks  for  building  large  fhips,  admi- 
rably contrived.  Thefe  three,  Dry  Pier, 
and  0/d  and  South  Docks,  are  all  totally 
furrounded  by  the  town,  fo  that  fhips  of 
4,  5,  600,  and  fome  of  900  tons  bur- 
then, lay  their  broad  fides  to  the  quays, 
and  goods  are  hoifted  out  of  them,  even 
into  many  of  the  warehoufes  of  the  mer- 
chants. 

A  little  out  of  the  town  is  a  very  pretty 
new  walk,  fpread  on  one  iide  with  fmall 
plantations,  and  looking  on  the  other  down 
upon  the  town  and  river  :  A  cofFee-houfe, 
l^c,  built  new  upon  it :  It  is  lately  done, 
and  a  good  improvement. 

There 


[     219     ] 

There  is  a  manufacture  of  porcckne  ^it 
this  place,  which  employs  many  hands  j 
the  men  earn  in  it  from  'js.  to  los.  a  week. 
Likewife  a  {locking  manufactory,  in  which 
they  earn  from  7  j.  to  9  j-.  Alfo  two  glafs- 
houles,  in  which  the  earnings  are  9  j.  or 
loj".  a  week. 

Poor  rates  in  Liverpool  i  s.  in  the  pound. 

Land,  five  miles  round  it,  letts,  at  an 
average,  at  3 1  j.  6^.  per  acre. 

They  fuppofe  the  number  of  inhabitants 
to  be  near  40,000. 

PROVISIONS,   ^c. 

Bread,  i\d. 

Butter,  8  ^.  1 8  oz, 

Cheefe,    31^. 

Beef,   2\d. 

Mutton,  3i  ^. 

Veal,  4^. 

Pork,  4^. 

Bacon,  7  d. 

Milk,  \d.  a  pint. 

Potatoes,  3  ^.  a  peck. 

Candles,   7  \  d. 

Soap,   'j\d. 

Poor's  houfe  rent,   2.0  s,  t0  30j. 

firing,  1 5  J.  to  20  s. 

The 


[      ^20       ] 

The  trade  of  Liverpool  increafed  regu- 
larly during  the  whole  courfe  of  the  war, 
and  was  at  its  height  when  the  new  regu- 
lations of  the  A?nerican  trade  took  place  : 
The  flopping  the  trade  with  the  Spaniards 
in  America,  with  fome  other  meafures  at 
that  time  relative  to  the  Colonies,  gave  a 
blow  to  the  commerce  of  this  town,  which 
£he  has  not  recovered  -,  fo  that  they-  have 
lince  been,  and  are  now,  much  upon  the 
decline  :  A  great  number  of  ihips  are  laid 
by  in  the  harbour,  and  a  general  languor 
foread  over  their  whole  trade. 

The  hufbandry  around  Ormjkirk,  parti- 
cularly about  Halfaliy  is  as  follows :  The 
foil  is  in  general  a  fandy  loam ;  letts,  upon 
an  average,  at  i  ^  s.  per  acre.  Farms  from 
5  /.  to  100 1,  a  year,  but  chiefly  about  40/. 
Their  courfe  is, 

1.  Break  up  the  ground,  and  fowOats 

2.  Barley 

3.  Wheat 

4.  Oats 

5.  Vetches 

6.  Barley 

7.  Clover  three  or  four  years,   and 

then  comes  to  grafs  of  itfelf, 
and  very  fine  grafs  it  muft  be. 

They 


[       221       ] 

They  plough  five  times  for  wheat,  low 
a  budiel  and  half,  and  reap  from  twenty- 
five  to  thirty-five  buihels.  For  barley  they 
plough  thrice,  fow  two  bufliels  and  an  half, 
and  get  about  twenty  in  return.  They  iHr 
but  once  for  oats,  fow  four  bufliels  ;  the 
crop  twenty.  For  beans  they  give  three 
earths,  fow  two  bufhels  and  half,  broad 
caft,  never  hoe  them,  and  get  upon  an 
average  about  thirty.  They  ufe  very  little 
rye  or  peafe.  Their  clover  they  reckon 
more  profitable  than  corn,  get  very  great 
crops. 

They  ufed  always  to  dig  for  potatoes, 
but  have  of  late  changed  that  method  for 
ploughing :  They  fet  them  upon  both 
grafs  and  tillage  land,  but  always  dung 
well.  The  foil  they  prefer  is  the  light 
fandy.  They  lay  the  dices  in  the  furrows 
after  the  plough,  fo  as  to  come  up  about 
nine  inches  afunder  every  way ;  while 
growing  they  hand  weed  them.  A  com- 
mon crop  is  150  bufliels  -,  and  a  good  acre 
worth  10/. 

The  principal  manure  ufed  here  is  marie, 
v/hich  they  lay  upon  the  fandy  foils ;  it 
cofts  about  3  /.  an  acre,  and  lails  good  for 
twenty  years ;  improves  beft  for  wheat  and 

oat.^. 


[       222       ] 

oats.  They  ftack  their  hay  in  the  farm 
yards,  but  knov/  nothing  of  chopping  the 
corn  ftubbles. 

Good  grafs  letts  at  30 ;.  an  acre  ;  they 
ufe  it  both  for  fatting,  dairying,  and  breed- 
ing ;  two  acres  they  reckon  neceifary  to 
fummer  a  cow;  never  manure  their  grafs. 

They  reckon  the  product  of  a  cow  at 
5  /.  give  upon  a  medium  fix  gallons  of 
milk  a  day.  They  keep  about  two  or 
three  hogs  to  ten.  The  winter  food  is  hay 
and  ftraw,  of  the  firft  about  120  ftone  (20/^. 
each)  is  fufficient;  and  have  it  in  the  houfe 
all  winter.  The  calves  they  bring  up  by 
hand,  one  month  for  the  butcher,  and  two 
months  for  rearing.  They  reckon  a  dairy- 
maid can  take  care  of  ten  cows.  The  fum- 
mer joift  is  20  r. 

The  flocks  of  fTicep  rife  from  twenty  to 
an  hundred  ;  the  profit  per  head  10  j.  They 
keep  them  all  winter  and  fpring  upon  grafs. 
The  average  weight  of  the  fleeces  about 
2  Ih. 

in  their  tillage  they  reckon  fix  horfes 
neccffary  for  an  hundred  acres  of  arable 
landj  ufe  two  or  three  in  a  plough,  and 
do  an  acre  a  ilay.  The  annual  expence^^r 
horfc  5/-    The  fummer  joift  40  j.     They 

break 


[       223       ] 

break  up  the  ftubbles  for  a  tallow  in  Fc'- 
bruary  or  },Lircb ;  the  common  price  ter 
acre  of  ploughing  4  /.  to  5  s.  They  llir 
Iix  inches  deep. 

They  know  nothing  of  cutting  ilra\^ 
into  chart^*. 

The  hire  of  a  cart,  three  horfe.s  and  a 
driver  per  dav  is  5  y. 

In  the  hiring  and  llocking  of  farms  thev 
reckon  150/.  futhcient  for  one  of  50/.  a 
yeur. 

Land  fells  from  thirty  to  forty  years  pur- 
chafe.     No  little  ellates. 
Tvthes  are  taken  in  kind. 
Pcx^r  rates  6  d,  in  the  pound :  The  em- 
ployment Ipinning  cotton.    Some  of  thv^in 
drink  tea. 

The  tarmers  carry  their  corn  feven  or 
eight  niiles. 

Leafes  run  in  general  on  terms  of  vear?, 
icven,  fourteen,  or  twenty-one ;  but  fomc 
on  three  lives. 

The  general  avonomy  \vill  be  feen  from 
the  following  ikctches : 
400  acres  in  all 
100  arable 


/^.  200  rent 


J'O  I\OltCS 


[      224      ] 

20  horfes 
30  cows 
30  young  cattle 
I  o  fatting  beails 
40  flieep 

4  men 

2  boys 

2  maids 

2  labourers 

4  plo'ighs 

2  carts* 
Another, 

60  ac-es  in  aH 
20  arable 
40  grafs 
j^.  120  rent  (it  is  near  the  town) 

3  horfes 
15  cows 

I  o  young  cattle 
I  man 
I  maid 
I  plough 
I  cart. 
Another, 

60  acres  in  all 
20  arable 
40  grafs 
£.  50  rent 

3  horfes 


[       225       ] 

3  horfes 

6  cows 

I  o  young  cattle 

3  fatting  beafts 

2o  flieep 

I  man 

I  maid 

I  plough 

1  cart. 

Another, 

135  acres  in  all 

70  arable 

65  grafs 

^.95  rent 

8  horfes 

20  cows 

6  young  cattle 

40  fheep 

2  men 

2  boys 

2  maids 

2  labourers 

3  ploughs 

3  carts. 

LABOUR. 

in  harveft,   i  s. 

In  hay  time,  8  c/. 

Vol.  III.                   Q_ 

In 


[      226      ] 

In  winter,  lod,   (this  they  fay  is  becaufe 

the  work  is  fo  much  harder.) 
Mowing  grafs,   is.  3^. 
Ditching,  8^.  to  u.  a  rood. 
Thrashing  wheat,  3^^.  a  bulhel. 

— barley,  2  d. 

oats,  lid, 

beans,  2  d. 

Head  man's  wages,  7/. 

Next  ditto,  5  /. 

Boy  of  ten  or  twelve  years,  30  /. 

Dairy  maids,  3  /. 

Other  ditto,  2  /.  10  j. 

Women  per  day  in  harveft,  i  s. 

In  hay  time,  8  d. 

The  value  of  a  man's  board,  wafhing,  and 

lodging,  9/. 

I  M  P  L  E  M  E  N  T  S,  ^^. 

No  waggons. 
A  cart,  4  /. 
A  plough,  20  J. 
A  harrow,  los. 
No  rollers. 
A  fcythe,  3  j, 
A  fpade,  3  s. 
Shoeing,  is,  4  d. 

BUILD- 


t  227   ] 

BUILDING. 

Bricks,  per  thoufand,    i  o  x. 
Oak,  I  s. 

Malbn,  per  day,  2  jr. 
Carpenter,  2  s. 

Farm  houfes  of  brick  and  flate. 
In  the  parifli  are, 
2000  acres 
100  farms 
^.  2000  rent 
>C.  50  rates 
j^.  25  highways 
^^  labourers 
20  poor 
200  horfes 
400  cows 
200  fheep 
100  fatting  beafts. 

On  the  weftern  fide  of  Halfcll,  near  the 
fea,  hes  about  1000  acres  of  boe,  called 
Halfell'Mofs,  which  about  thirty  years  ago 
was  not  on  an  average  worth  i  d,  an  acre  : 
Turfs  were  dug  out  of  part  of  it  for  burn- 
ing. Mr.  Edward  Segar,  of  Earton-Houfe, 
who  pofTeiTed  a  confiderable  part  of  it,  be- 
gan the  improvement  of  it,  which  has 
Q^  fince 


f   228   ] 

fince  been  condudted  by  Mr.  Parke  oi  Li- 
verpool, 

It  was  fo  very  foft  that  no  cattle  could  go 
on  it  during  the  greateft  part  of  the  year; 
for  which  reafon  the  firft  bufinefs  was 
draining.  It  was  for  that  purpofe  divided 
into  fields  of  about  two  acres  each,  by 
ditches  five  feet  wide  at  top,  three  feet 
deep,  and  three  feet  wide  at  bottom ;  the 
digging  thefe  cuts  coil  j\.d.  per  rood. 

In  about  a  year  the  ditches  were  half 
clofed  up  j  and  all  cleaned  out  again.  Then 
another  year  elapfed  before  any  further  im- 
provement was  undertaken  :  This  time  was 
given  it  for  a  gradual  draining,  that  the 
furface  might  be  tolerably  firm  for  the 
bearing  of  men  and  horfes. 

At  the  end  of  the  fecond  year  it  was 
confolldated  enough  to  bear  men  for  paring 
and  burning  it,  which  was  performed  in 
winter,  two  or  three  inches  deep.  The 
paring  coft  js.  per  acre,  and  the  burning 
IS.  td. 

After  this  it  was  ploughed  with  one 
horfe  in  boots,  lliod  with  boards  of  an 
oval  fliape,  eighteen  inches  wide,  which 
enabled  the  horfe  to  move  fecurely  upon 
the  bog.  The  turfs  raifed  by  this  plough- 
ing 


[       229       ] 

ing  were  alfo  burnt ;  for  the  firft  paring  is 
often  of  fo  puffy  a  nature  as  to  afford 
fcarce  any  aihes  ;  but  the  fecond,  coming 
after  a  greater  confolidation,  apd  the  plough 
cutting  fo  much  deeper  than  a  man,  the 
afhes  are  more  in  quantity  and  of  a  better 
nature.  This  fecond  burning  was  performed 
the  beginning  ol  Augiifi. 

The  allies  were  ploughed  in  immedi- 
ately, quite  hot,  to  the  depth  of  about 
three  or  four  inches,  and  upon  that  one 
earth,  without  any  harrowing  either  before 
or  after,  rye  was  fown  the  beginning  of 
SeptembeKy  near  a  bufliel  to  the  acre,  which 
generally  produced  about  twenty-five  in 
return. 

This  rye  was  off  the  land  time  enough 
for  another  burning  of  the  old  furrows, 
which  cofi;  about  3  s.  an  acre  ;  after  which 
it  was  again  ploughed,  and  fown  with  rye 
^s  before,  and  the  crop  nearly  the  fame. 

With  this  fecond  crop  of  rye  much  na- 
tural grafs  came,  which  was  left  to  itfelf 
for  three  years,  but  kept  paffured  by  cat- 
tle, and  turfed  very  well. 

In  the  April  after  thefe  three  years,    it 

was  ploughed  as  at  firff  with  one  horfe,  and 

the  furrows  burnt;    then   it  was  ftirred  a 

Q_3  fecond 


[  23=  ] 
iecond  time  and  fown  with  oats,  four 
bushels  per  acre,  and  the  crop  was  near 
thirty.  After  they  were  cleared  from  the 
land,  it  was  burnt  again  ai  in  the  former 
coL.fe,  ar.d  after  a  ploughing,  a  fecond  crop 
of  oats  fown,  that  yielded  much  the  fame 
is  the  lift.  The  grafs  again  coming  of  it- 
felf,  it  was  left  to  graze  for  four  years,  and 
was  a  very  good  pallure. 

This  was  the  general  management : 
Taking  two  crops  of  rye  or  oats,  and  then 
letting  it  lye  in  grats  for  three  or  four  years, 
and  always  breaking  up  with  burning  : 
And  in  this  management  feveral  hundred 
acres  were  and  are  adjudged  bv  a  many 
farmers,  to  be  worth  from  -js.  t  d.  to  i  z  s. 
per  acre. 

As  the  rye  is  fown  without  harrowing,  it 
fhould  be  while  corn  is  plentiful  in  the  field, 
that  vermine  may  have  no  particular  temp- 
tation to  attack  it. 

This  fyftem  of  management  has  been 
found,  on  experience,  to  be  \trj-  advantage- 
ous ;  it  would  be,  therefore,  impertinent  to 
prelcribe,  for  fach  a  peculiar  foil,  any  im- 
provements; but  I  cannot  avoid  remarking, 
that  if  grafs  feeds  were  fov/n  with  the  fe- 
cond corn  crop,    tht  fucceeding  paihirage 

wouic 


[  =--'  1 

would  probably  be  much  better.  The 
pablic  is,  hovrerer,  much  indebted  to  theie 
^ntlemen  tor  the  diicovery. 

Reruniing  to  JF^rri^^t:?:,  I  icc^  tr.e 
road  to  ^I'.^r-OTrf'^rw ;  the  country  of  vir.: .  r 
ibil<,  but  chiedy  loam  and  imd ;  letts  it:  :. 
1  -^  s.  to.  22  J*.  /:rr  acre.  Abcut  that  pLsce 
it  is  chienv  iandy  and  icme  day,  and  light 
loom ;    letts  trcm  i  ;  / .  to  2^  s.  an  acre. 

Farms  from  20/.  a  vear  to  30c  /.  Ths 
coune  of  crops 

1.  Fallow 

2.  Wheat 

3.  Cats 

4.  Clever  tbr  dixerent  terms* 
Thev   rIoc;?h  three  or  four  times  ibr 

wheat,  low  two  bolh^  a  fortnight  or  three 
weeks  before  Mh-imefmar,  and  reckon  the 
avenge  produce  at  thirty  buihels.  Per 
barlev  thev  plough  thrice,  low  four  buihels 
the  beginning  cf  3/-^,  and  gain  in  return 
about  thirt\*-three  at  a  medium.  For  aits 
thev  give  but  cne  ploughing,  low  four 
buihels  and  a  half  the  beginning  ct  M^rscy 
and  ^t  about  fom-nve  at  a  medium. 
Thev  give  two  or  three  e.:"*' '  '  "  :^eanf, 
dibble  them  in,  three  buil..  "^  -it 

iis  bvhes  aiunder,   and  hand  \^-eed  them 
O  vhi';; 


[  ^32  ] 
while  growing;  the  crop  forty  bufhels- 
They  fow  wheat  after  them,  and  get  good 
crops.  For  peafe  they  alfo  plough  twice 
or  thrice,  dibble  them  as  beans,  and  hand 
weed  them ;  the  crop  about  three  quarters. 

But  few  turneps  are  cultivated ;  fuch  as 
do  fow  them,  plough  the  land  three  or  four 
times  J  no  hoeing,  but  the  crop  is  thinned 
by  hand  for  ferving  the  markets.  Average 
value  from  4  /.  to  i  o  /.  an  acre.  Ufe  them 
for  all  forts  of  cattle.  Clover  they  fow 
with  barley  and  oats,  ufe  it  chiefly  for  hay, 
of  which  they  get  two  tons  per  acre  at  a 
mowing.  Tares  they  fow  for  hay,  and  get 
four  loads  an  acre,  three-horfe  cart  loads, 
worth  20  s.  a  load,  and  fallow  after  them 
for  wheat.  Buckwheat  they  have  fown 
for  a  drefling  for  wheat,  by  ploughing  it 
in,  and  find  it  does  beft  on  dry  fandy  land. 

They  dig  for  potatoes  generally-  after 
oats,  dunging  the  land  well ;  they  dibble 
the  felts  in,  twenty-two  bufhels  do  an  acre. 
Some  hand-weed  them  while  growinp-; 
others  hand-hoe  them.  The  crop  about 
^zocwL per  acrQ,{i2o/.^.  each;)fome  twice 
as  much.  Mr.  Thomas  WnrhnrtoUy  oi  Al- 
tringbam,  made  for  fome  years  2^  I.  z  year 
from  one  acre  of  land  by  potatoes.     They 

low 


t   233   ] 

f()w  wheat  or  barley  after  them,  and  are 
line  of  a  great  crop. 

Marie  is  their  great  manure ;  they  have 
it  of  all  forts,  red,  white,  blue,  black,  and 
brown  ;  they  reckon  it  does  bell  on  the 
ground  it  is  under;  lay  from  twenty-four 
to  forty  fquare  yards  on  an  acre.  Upoii 
clay  they  lay  thirty-two  ;  upon  fand  forty  ; 
and  upon  bog  the  fmie.  It  cofls  about 
I J-.  a  yard.  It  will  be  an  Improvement  in 
fome  meafure  for  ever,  if  not  kept  too  long 
in  tillage.  They  have  found  from  expe- 
rience, that  it  anfwers  well  to  marie 
twice. 

Lime  they  alfo  ufe  both  upon  clay  and 
fand,  but  does  bed  upon  the  former  :  They 
lay  on  an  acre  eighty  or  an  hundred  loads, 
at  ten  pecks  each.  Another  and  excellent 
way  of  ufing  it  is,  to  plant  potatoes  upon 
the  fluff  thrown  out  of  their  ditches,  and 
afterwards  mix  it  up  with  lime.  It  coib 
1  s.  a  load  thirteen  miles  off.  Their  boggy 
land  they  pare  and  burn.  They  buy  dung 
at  Mancheftcr  at  from  \d.  to  7/  a  ton, 
but  agree  for  it  in  the  lump.  They  flack 
their  hay  at  home. 

Good  grafs  jetts  at  30 i.  an  acre  ;  they 
apply  it  both  to  fluting  and  dairying  ;    and 

reckon 


[  234  ] 
reckon  that  an  acre  is  fufficient  to  keep  a 
cow  through  the  fummer  ;  but  they  both 
dung  and  marie  it.  Their  breed  of  horned 
cattle  is  the  long  horns,  fat  them  from 
thirty  to  fifty  ftone.  The  produdl  of  a 
cow  they  reckon  at  5/.  loj".  and  the  ave- 
rage quantity  of  milk  five  gallons  a  day. 
They  do  not  keep  above  two  or  three  hogs 
to  twenty-fix  cows.  When  dry,  the  winter 
food  is  ftraw ;  but  near  and  after  calving, 
hay  and  ground  oats ;  of  the  firfl  about 
one  half  or  three  quarters  of  an  acre.  The 
calves  do  not  fuck  above  two  or  three 
weeks  for  the  butcher ;  but  for  rearing 
all  are  brought  up  by  hand.  A  dairy-maid 
ufually  takes  care  of  feven  or  eight  cows, 
The  fummer  joiil  is  30J.  In  the  win- 
ter they  are  kept  in  the  houfe. 

Hogs  they  fat  up  to  twenty-fivt? 
flone. 

The  flocks  of  fheep  are  not  many  near 
the  town,  but  at  a  fmall  diftance  they  rife 
from  twenty  to  two  hundred ;  the  profit 
they  calculate  at  10  s.  a  head.  The  winter 
fpring  food  is  a  few  turneps,  but  in  gene- 
ral grafs  alone.  The  average  of  fleeces 
about  4i7^. 

In 


[  ^35  ] 
In  their  tillage  they  reckon  fix  horfes 
necefTary  for  one  hundred  acres  of  arable 
land :  They  ufe  three  or  four  in  a  plough, 
and  do  an  acre  a  day.  They  calculate  the 
whole  annual  expence  fer  horfe  at  4/.  i6j-. 
The  fummer  jpift  40  j.  The  price  per 
acre  of  ploughing  is  5  J.  3  d.  and  the  time 
of  breaking  up  their  ftubbles  for  a  fallow, 
after  the  barley  fowing.  The  general  depth 
live  inches. 

They  know  nothing  of  cutting  ftraw 
into  chaff. 

The  hire  per  day  of  a  cart,  three  horfes, 
and  a  driver,  5  s. 

In  the  hiring  and  flocking  of  farms,  they 
reckon  that,  with  particular  management, 
a  man  may  ftock  one  of  100  /.  a  year  for 
200/.  but  that  for  300/.  many  fuch  are 
taken.  That  fum  they  divide  in  the  foU 
lowing  manner  : 

Twenty  beafls,       -  -     ^^.120 

Five  horfes,         -  -  40 

Forty  {heep,         -  -  16 

Pigs  -  -  -  2 

Harnefs, 


[  236 

] 

Harnefs, 

Chains, 

0 

7 

0 

Backhand, 

0 

5 

0 

Bellyhand, 

0 

I 

0 

Halms, 

0 

3 

0 

Collar, 

0 

7 

0 

Halter, 

0 

3 

0 

1 

6 

0 
5 

— 

.— 

— 

6   10 

Two  road  carts. 

- 

H 

Three  home  ditto. 

- 

12 

Sundry  fmall  implements 

>> 

- 

4    IQ 

Two  ploughs. 

- 

2 

Harrows, 

- 

4 

Roller, 

- 

I 

Houfe-keeping, 

- 

3^ 

Labour, 

- 

35 

Seed, 

- 

20 

>Cv307 

Land  fells  at  thirty  years  purchafe.  Many 
eftates  of  2  or  300/.  a  year. 

Tythes  are  generally  gathered ;  poor 
rates  from  is.  td.  to  is.  td.  in  the  pound  ; 
their  employment  fpinning  flax  and  wool. 
All  drink  tea. 

The 


[  m  ] 

The  farmers  carry  their  corn  eight  miles. 
Leafes  run  from  feven  to  fourteen  years ; 
fome  for  three  lives. 

The  general  oeconomy  of  the  country 
will  be  feen  from  the  following  fketches 
of  farms. 

40  acres  in  all 
10  arable 
30  grafs 
jT.  40  rent 
2  horfes 
7  cows 

2  young  cattle 
I  boy 

1  maid 

2  carts 

2  ploughs. 
Another, 

200  acres  in  all 
100  arable 
1 00  grafs 
^.300  rent 
I  o  horfes 
26  cows 

5  fatting  beafts 
20  young  cattle 
60  flieep 
3  men 

2  boys 


i  238  J 

£  boys 
2  maids 

2  labourers 

1  waggon 
4  carts 

3  ploughs. 
Another, 

no  acres  in  all 
40  arable 
70  grafs 
£.  90  rent 

4  horfes 
15  cows 

2  fatting  beafls 
8  young  cattle 

20  fheep 
I  man 
I  boy 
I  maid 

1  labourer 

2  carts 

2  ploughs. 
Another, 

87  acres  in  all 
40  grafs 
47  arable 
^.72  rent 
4  horfes 
6  cows 


3  fatting 


[     239     ] 

3  fatting  beafts 
1  o  young  cattle 
30  Iheep 

I  boy 

I  maid 

1  labourer 

2  carts 

1  plough. 

LABOUR. 

In  harveft,  is.  3^.  or  is.  and  beer. 

In  hay  time,  i  s.  and  beer. 

In  winter,  10  d. 

Reaping  wheat,  per  acre,  3  i.  to  4  s, 

barley,  4J-.  to  ^s, 

'  oats,  3  J-,  to  4  s. 

"■— beans,  4  j.  6d. 

Mowing  grafs,  i.f.  6d*  to  2s.  6a. 

Ditching,  5  J.  to  8  d. 

Thrafhing  wheat,  is.  2d.  per  five  bufliels. 

-barley,  i\d.  per  bulhel. 

— oats,  IJ-.  6d.  or  2s.  per  20  meafures. 

■"     ■■  —  beans,  is.  per  five  bufhels. 
Digging,  8  d.  per  rood. 
Head-man's  wages,  6  /.  to  10/. 
Next  ditto,  5  /. 

Boy  of  ten  or  twelve  years,  40  J. 
Dairy  maid,  4  /,  to  5  /* 

Other 


[       240       ] 

Other  ditto,  2/.  to  3  I. 

Women  per  day  in  harveft,  \s,  and  beer, 

In  hay  time,  8  d.  and  ditto. 

Value  of  a  man's  board,  wafhing,  and  lodg- 
ing, T^s.  6  d.  a  week. 

IMPLEMENTS,    ^c. 

Few  waggons. 

A  cart,  8  L 

A  plough,  20  J-. 

A  harrow,  25  j. 

A  fcythe,  2  j".  6  ^.  to  3  /* 

A  fpade,   4  j. 

Shoeing,  iJ".   4^. 

P  Pv  O  V  I  S  I  O  N  S,   &c. 

Bread — wheat  and  barley  mixed. 

Cheefe,   3I  ^.  per  lb. 

Butter,   yd,     18  oz. 

Beef,  2d.  to  2 1  d. 

Mutton,  3  d. 

Veal,  3f^. 

Pork,  31^. 

Bacon,  7  ^. 

Milk,  new,  f  ^./»^r  pint,  fkim,  |  /»?r  quart. 

Potatoes,   4J".  6  ^.  />£'r  iiilb. 

Labourer's  houfe  rent,  30  j. 

— Firing,  2oj'. 

BUILD- 


[      241      ] 

BUILDING. 

'Bricks,  per  thoufarid,  from  8j.  6^.  to  20  s. 

Oak  timber,  8  ^.   to  2  s. 

Afh  ditto,  8^. 

Mafon  per  day,  i  j-.  6  d. 

Carpenter  ditto,  is.  6  d, 

I  forgot  to  tell  you,  that  one  or  two  fen- 
fible  farmers  in  this  neighbourhood  have 
of  late  come  into  the  way  of  making  hol- 
low drains  for  the  improvement  of  their 
wet  lands.  They  dig  them  from  two  feet 
to  three  or  four  deep,  fet  two  bricks  on  edge 
along  the  bottom,  and  lay  another  over 
them  in  this  manner,  PI.  IV.  Fig.  i.  They 
are  then  filled  up  with  the  moulds. 
The  digging,  laying,  and  filling  coft  4^. 
a  rood. 

From  Aitringham  I  took  the  road  to 
Manchejier,  with  defign,  not  only  to 
view  the  manufactures  of  that  town, 
but  to  make  it  my  head  quarters  from 
thence  to  go  the  tour  of  his  Grace  the 
Duke  of  Bridg'UDaters  navigation,  about 
which  fuch  wonders  are  abroad  ■■,  if  only 
half  are  true,  I  fliall  be  not  a  little  en- 
tertained. 

Vol.  hi.  R  The 


[       242       ] 

The  Manchejier  manufadures  are  divid- 
ed into  four  branches. 
The  fuftian 
The  check 
The  hat 

The  worded  fmall  wares. 
All    thefe    are   fubdivided    into   numerous 
branches,  of  didindt  and  feparate  work.    In 
that  of  fuftians  are  thirteen. 
y<°.    I.  Corded  dhnities 
2.   Velvets 
?.  Velverets 
4.  Thlckfets 
_5.  Pillavvs 
6.  Quilts 
n.  Petticoats 

8.  Draw-boys 

9.  Diapers 

10.  Herringbones 
1  I .  Jeans 

12.  Jeanets 

13.  Counterpanes. 

Thefe  goods  are  worked  up  of  cotton 

alone,   of  flax  and    cotton,  and  of  Ham- 

horoiifrh    yarn.       All   forts    of   cotton    are 

ufed,  but  chiefly  the  JVeJi  Indian,     Thefe 

•  branches  employ  men,  women,  and  chiV- 

dren. 

In 


[     243     ] 
in  the  branch  N^.  i .  Men  earn  fiom  3  j. 
to  8  s.  week. 
Women  the  l^ime. 
No  children  employed  In  it. 

2.  Men  from  5  s.  to  jos. 
Neither  women  or  children. 

3,  and  4,   Men  from  5  j.  to  10 s.  ave- 

rage 5  J-.  6  ^. 
Women  as  much. 
Children  3  s. 

5.  Men  from  /\.s.  to  5  j-. 
Women  the  fame. 
Children  2  s.  6  c/. 

6,  and  7.   Men  from  6  s.  to  12  j. 

Neither  women  or  children. 

8.  Men,  at  an  average,  6  j-.  but  a  boy 

paid  out  of  it. 
No  women. 

9.  Men  from  4  j-.  to  6  s. 
Women  as  much. 
No  children. 

10.  All  children,  i  j-.  6  d, 

1 1 .  Men  from  4  s.  to  10/. 
No  women  or  children. 

1 2.  Women  i  j.  6  ^.  to  3  j-.  6  J. 
Children  the  fame. 

13.  Men  from  3/.  to  ys. 
Neither  women  or  children. 

R  2  Thefc 


[    244    ] 

Thefe  branches  of  manufadure  worfc 
both  for  exportation  and  home  confump- 
tion :  Many  low  priced  goods  they  make 
for  North  Afnerica,  and  many  fine  ones  for 
the  Weft  Indies.  The  whole  bufinefs  v/as 
exceedingly  brifk  during  the  war,  and  very 
bad  after  the  peace ;  but  now  are  pretty 
good  again,  though  not  equal  to  what  they 
were  during  the  war.  All  the  revolutions 
of  late  in  the  North  America?!  affairs  are 
felt  feverely  by  this  branch.  It  was  never 
known  in  this  branch  that  poor  people  ap- 
plied for  work  but  could  not  gtt  it,  except 
in  the  ftagnation  caufed  by  the  ftamp  adt, 

I  enquired  the  effeds  of  high  or  low 
prices  of  provifions,  and  found  that  in  the 
former  the  manufadurers  were  induftrious^ 
and  their  families  eafy  and  happy  3  but  that 
in  times  of  low  prices  the  latter  ftarved  -, 
for  half  the  time  of  the  father  was  fpent  at 
the  ale-houfe.  That  both  for  the  good  of 
the  mafters,  and  the  working  people,  high 
prices  were  far  more  advantageous  than 
low  ones:  And  the  highefl:  that  were  ever 
known  much  better  than  theloweft. 

All  in  general  may  conftantly  have  work 
that  will :  And  the  em.ployment  is  very  re- 
gular :  The  mailer  manufacturers  not  flay- 

.     ins 


[    245    ] 

ing  for  orders  before  the  people  are  fet  to 
work,  but  keep,  on  the  contrary,  a  great 
many  hands  in  pay,  in  expedtation  of  the 
fpring  orders. 

The  principal  fub-divifions  of  the  check 
branch  are  the  folio  win  jr. 

N°.  I.  Handkerchiefs. 

2.  Bed  ticking. 

3.  Cotton  hollands. 

4.  Gowns. 

5.  Furniture  checks. 

6.  Silk  and  cotton  ginghams 

7.  Soufees. 

8.  Damafcus's. 

9.  African  goods,   iw  imitation  of 

the  Eajl  Indian, 
Thefe  branches  employ  both  men,   wo- 
men,   and    children  5    their    earninf^s    as 
follow. 

N°.  I.  Men  7 J. 

Women  j  s. 
Children  2J-.  to  51. 

2.  Men  6i.  to  ioj-. 

Neither  wom.en  or  children. 

3.  Men  ^  s. 
Women.  7  J". 

Children  a  few,   2  x.  to  5  s, 

4.  Mwii  8  J-. 

P-  3  Neither 


[       2^6       ] 

Neither  women  or  children. 

5.  Men  7  s. 
Women  7  s. 
No  children. 

6.  Men  y  s.  6  d. 

Neither  women  or  children, 

7.  Men  ys.  t  d. 

Neither  women  or  children. 

8.  Men  ys.ed. 

Neither  women  or  children. 

9.  Men  from  6  s.  to  9^". 
W'omen  the  farne, 
No  children. 

Moil  of  thcfe  articles  have  rnany  pre^ 
parers;  among  others. 

Dyers  at  7J.  6  d. 

Bleachers  6  s.  6d^ 

Finiihers  y  s.  6  i/, 
The  check  branch,  like  the  fuftian, 
works  both  for  exportation  and  home  con- 
fijmption,  but  vailly  more  for  the  former 
than  the  latter.  During  the  war  the  de- 
mand was  extremely  brifk ;  very  dull  upon 
the  peace,  but  lately  has  arifen  greatly, 
though  not  equal  to  the  war  j  and  the  in- 
terruptions caufed  by  the  convulfions  in 
America,  very  feverely  felt  by  every  work- 
man in  this  branch  :  None  ever  offered  for 

\\'0rk 


[  247  1 
work  but  they  at  once  had  it,  except  upon 
the  regulations  of  the  colonies  cutting  off 
their  trade  with  the  SpiUiiardsj  and  tiie 
flamp  adt.  The  lall:  advices  received  from 
America  have  had  a  fimilar  effedl,  for  many 
hands  were  paid  off  in  confequence  of 
them. 

In  the  hat  branch  the  principal  fub-diyi^ 
fiojis  are, 

J.  Preparers. 

2.  Makers. 

3.  Finifhers. 

4.  Liners. 

5.  Trimmers. 

They  employ  both  men,  women,  and 
children,  whofe  earnings  are  fomevvhat 
various. 

N^  I.  No  men. 

Women,  3J.  6d,  to  js. 
No  children. 

2.  Men  -JS.  6d, 
No  women. 
Children,  2  s.  6  d.  to  6s. 

3.  Men,  12J-. 
No  women. 
Children,   ys.  6d. 

4.  lio  men. 

Women,  4  J",  to  j  ;.  6d. 

R  4  ChiU 


[    248     ] 
Children,  2s.  6  ^.  to  6  j. 
5.  No  men. 

Women,  4  j.  toy s,  6  d. 
Children,  2  j.  (id.  to  6  j-. 
This  branch  works  chiefly  for  exporta^-- 
tlon;  during  the  war  it  was  furprizingly 
brifk ;  after  the  peace  quite  low ;  lately  it 
has  been  middling. 

In  the  branch  of  fmall  wares  are  nume- 
rous little  articles,  but  the  earnings  in  ge- 
neral run  as  follow : 

Men  from  51.  to  \is. 
Women  from  2  j.  6  d.  to  y  s. 
Children  from  is.  6  d.  to  6  j-. 
The   number  of  fpinners  employed  in, 
and  out  of  Manchefter  is  immenfe;  they 
reckon    30,000   fouls  in  that  town  ;  and, 
50,000  manufacturers  employed  out  pf  it. 
Cotton  fpinners  earn. 
Women,  2  j.  to  5  s. 
Girls  from  fix  to  twelve  years,  is,  to 
\s.  6d, 
In  general  all  thefe  branches  find,  that 
their  befl:  friend  is  high  prices  of  provifions: 
I  was  particular  in  my  enquiries  on  this 
head,  and  found  the  fentiment  univerfal : 
The  manufadurers  themfelves,   as  well  as 
their  families,    are  in  fucli   times  better 

cloathed. 


[  249  ] 
cloathed,  better  fed,  happier,  and  In  eafier 
circumftances  than  when  prices  are  low ; 
for  at  fuch  times  they  never  worked  fix 
days  in  a  week ;  numbers  not  five,  nor 
even  four ;  the  idle  time  fpent  at  alehoufes, 
or  at  receptacles  of  low  diverfion  ;  the  re- 
mainder of  their  time  of  little  value ;  for 
it  is  a  known  fadl,  that  a  man  who  fi:icks 
to  his  loom  regularly,  will  perform  his 
work  much  better,  and  do  more  of  it,  than 
one  who  idles  away  half  his  time,  and 
efpeclally  in  drunkennefs. 

The  mafter  manufadlurers  of  Manchejler 
wifh  that  prices  might  always  be  high 
enough  to  enforce  a  general  induftry ,  to 
keep  the  hands  employed  fix  days  for  a 
week's  work;  as  they  find  that  even  one  idle 
day,  in  the  chance  of  it's  being  a  drunken 
one,  damages  all  the  other  five,  or  rather 
the  work  of  them.  But  at  the  fame  time 
they  are  fenfible,  that  provifions  may  be  too 
high,  and  that  the  poor  may  fuffer  in  fpite 
of  the  utmoft  induftry  5  the  line  of  fepo/- 
ration  is  too  delicate  to  attempt  the  draw- 
ing :  but  it  is  well  known  by  every  mafter 
manufacturer  at  Manchejler,  that  the  work- 
men who  are  induftrious,  rather  more  fo 
than  the  common  run  of  their  brethren, 

have 


[       250       ] 

have  never  been  in  want  in  the  highcfl: 
of  the  late  high  prices.  Large  families 
in  this  place  are  no  incumbrance ;  all  are 
fet  to  work. 

America  takes  three-fourths  of  all  the 
manufacflures  of  Manchejier. 

I  am  obliged  to  Mr.  Archibald  BelU  of 
St,  Amis  Square y  and  iMr.  Hamiltoiiy  two 
of  the  principal  manufa(5turers  in  the  town, 
the  firlt  in  the  fuftian  branch,  and  the  lat- 
ter in  the  check,  for  the  heads  of  the  pre*- 
ceding  intelligence.  Had  I  been  fortu- 
nate enough  to  meet  v/ith  gentlemen 
equally  knowing,  and  obliging,  at  many 
other  manufadturing  towns,  I  fhould  have 
been  able  to  give  a  much  better  account  of 
them  ;  but  the  fuccefs  of  fuch  undertak-r 
ings  as  this  Tour,  mufl:  depend,  in  a  good 
meafure,  on  the  people  one  meets  with. 

To-morrow  begins  with  the  Duke  of 
Bridgwater y  I  dial  I  therefore  conclude  this 
long  epiftle,  by  affuring  you,  that  I  fliall 
?ver  remain,  ^c.  &c. 


LETTER 


[     25'     ] 


LETTER      XIX. 

^T^  M  E  original  dcfign  of  the  Duke  of 
Bridgwater,  was  to  cut  a  canal  from 
y/orjleyy  an  cRate  of  his  Grace's,  abound- 
ing with  coal-mines,  to  Manchejiery  for 
the  eafy  conveyance  of  his  coals  to  fo  con- 
fiderable  a  market;  and,  in  1758-9,  an 
Act  of  Parliament  for  that  purpofe  was 
obtained.  The  courfe  of  the  canal  pre- 
fcribed  by  this  act,  was  afterwards  varied 
ty  the  fame  authority,  and  the  Duke  fur- 
ther enabled  greatly  to  extend  his  plan  ; 
for  he  now  determined,  and  with  uncom- 
mon fpirit,  to  make  his  canal  brarjch  not 
only  from  JVorf.ey  to  Manchejiery  but  alfo 
from  a  part  of  the  canal  between  both,  to 
Stockport  and  Liverpool.  The  idea  was  a 
noble  one,  and  ranks  this  fpirited  young 
pobleman  with  the  moft  ufctul  genius's  of 
this  or  any  age.  But  the  execution  of  fo 
great  a  plan  teemed  with  difficulties  that 
required  a  perpetual  exertion  of  abilities 
fertile  in  refources. 

The  firft  point  in  viewing  this  naviga- 
tion, is  to  fend  froni  Mancbtjler  to  JVorjleyy 

to 


[      252      ] 

to  fpeak  for  a  boat,  to  carry  your  party 
the  whole  tour  :  (By  the  bye,  it  is  a  ftrange 
affair  that  the  town  of  Manchejler  does 
not  poffefs  a  boat  for  the  accommodation 
of  its  own  inhabitants,  and  ftrangers  who 
come  to  fee  it :  For  want  of  one,  you  may 
very  probably  wait  a  day  or  two :)  And  in 
the  mean  time  you  may  employ  yourfelf  in 
viewing  the  works  at  Matichefter :  This 
was  my  plan.  And  it  will  not  be  amifs  if 
you  afk  for  Mr.  Mac-fomethingy — Maclean, 
I  think  i  the  principal  man  that  delivers 
the  coals :  He  is  a  fenlible,  intelligent 
fellow,  and  will  fhew  and  explain  every 
thing  here. 

The  head  of  the  navigation  forms  two  ter- 
minations, marked  A  and  B,  in  the  annexed 
plan,  Plate  IV.  Fig.  2.  The  firft  is,  a  com-? 
mon  wharf  for  the  landing  of  coals  out  of 
large  barges,  for  the  fupply  of  carts  and  wag- 
gons. The  fecond  is  a  fubterraneous  canal, 
arched  over,  into  which  long  but  narrow 
boats  enter,  being  of  a  conftrudlion  fitted  for 
a  peculiar  purpofe  elfewhere.  This  fubter- 
raneous palTage  extends  from  C  to  D. 

At  E,  in  the  roof  of  the  arch  turned  over 
this  water,  is  a  well,  bricked  like  common 
ones,  which  is  funk  from  the  ground  above  j 

(iV.  B. 


c 


(/V.  B.  It  is  much  higher  than  the  level  of 
the  water,  being  fomewhat  of  a  hill;) 
upon  which,  and  near  the  mouth  of  this 
well,  is  erected  a  crane  of  a  new  construc- 
tion, which  turning  upon  a  pivot,  is  brought 
at  pleafure  over  the  well,  and  draws  up 
the  coals.     G. 

The  boats  are  filled  with  fquare  boxes,  fit- 
ted in  exadly  ;  thefe  are  filled  with  coals, 
(each  contains  eight  hundred  weight)  at 
the  mine,  for  the  convenience  of  being 
eafily  landed  through  this  well ;  they 
therefore  enter  the  fubterraneous  canal, 
and  move  on,  until  they  come  under  the 
well ;  there  they  ftop,  and  the  ropes, 
which  are  fixed  to  the  crane  above,  being 
let  down  with  hooks,  at  the  end  are 
faftencd  to  the  boxes,  (which  are  ironed 
for  that  purpofe)  and  then  drawn  up. 

The  power  of  this  crane  is  that  of  a  water 
wheel,  contrived  in  a  very  fimple  manner — ■ 
the  beft  way  of  explaining  it  will  be  by  a  lit- 
tle fketch,  Plate  IV.  Fig.  3.  But  remark, 
that  I  only  draw  this  from  idea,  the  cavern 
in  which  the  wheels  work  being  under- 
ground and  below  the  furface  of  the  fub- 
terraneous  canal;  and  all  the  light  I  had 
was  that  of  a  farthing  candle.     I  offer  it 

only 


[    254    ] 
only  as   an  explanation,  which  may  glvd 
you  a  better  idea  of  the  manner  in  which 
the  coals  are  drawn,  than  a  mere  defcrip- 
tion  in  words. 

a.  Is  the  canal  arched  over. 

b.  A  little    branch  of  it,     or    rather  a 

trough,  into  which  the  water  is  let 
at  pleafure  by  drawing  up  the  Hiding 
door  c, 

d.  A  water  wheel,  into  the  cavities  of 

which  the  water  falls  out  of  the 
trough  b, 

e.  A   wooden   cylinder,    to    which    the 

ropes  are   faftened  j    turned   by  the 
above  water  wheel,  which  winds  the 
ropes  round  it. 
ff.  The  ropes  which  are  faftened  at  top 
to  the  crane. 
0-.  The     channel     through    which    the 
water  that  turns  the  wheel,  runs  off, 
marked  F  in  the  large  plan. 
Each  boat  contains  twelve   boxes;  two 
men  and  a  boy  are  employed  in  the  unload- 
ing, who  arc  from  twenty  to  forty-five  mi- 
nutes about  each  boat  load  ;  this  variation  is 
occafioned  by  caufes  which  will  be  explain- 
ed hereafter.    When  drawn  up,  the  boxes 

are 


[    255    ] 

arc  emptied  on  a  heap  for  fale  ;  and  then 
let  down  again  into  the  boats.  "I'his 
fubterraneous  canal  is  extended  further 
than  the  crane,  with  defign  to  ercd: 
another  upon  the  fame  principles.  At 
the  mouth  of  it  is  a  door  fiiftened  on 
hinges  at  the  bottom  of  the  water,  which 
falls  or  riles  at  pleafure,  and  when  up  l1:ops 
the  water  from  entering  i  a  trap-door  at 
the  bottom  of  the  fubterraneous  canal  may 
then  be  opened,  and  all  the  water  let  out 
for  repairing  any  of  the  works ;  it  then 
runs  into  the  channel,  g. 

I  fhould,  in  the  next  place,  remark,, 
that  the  water  marked  H,  11,  11,  H,  is 
the  river  Medlockt  and  I,  the  Duke's  ca- 
nal ',  but  as  it  is  the  firft  and  grand  prin- 
ciple of  Mr.  Brindlcy^  plan,  with  all  arti- 
ficial navigations,  never  to  let  the  water 
of  any  brook  or  river  intermix  with  that 
of  the  canal,  unlcfs  to  fupply  the  requilitc 
quantity ;  fome  peculiar  contrivance  was 
necefTary  to  prevent  the  canal,  in  this 
junction  with  the  river,  from  being  affed:- 
cd  by  its  rifing  or  falling  with  flood?,  GV. 
For  this  purpofe,  the  wear  was  executed, 
which   is   minuted    in    the  annexed  plan, 

marked 


[    256    ] 

marked  K :  It  is  a  hexagon,  of  366  yards 
circumference. 

The  old  courfe  of  the  Medlock  is  marked 
out  by  the  lines  dotted  thus : 


Inftead  of  permitting  it  to  continue  in  that 
courfe,  it  was  enlarged  into  the  fize  it  now 
appears  in  the  plan,  the  circular  end  of  which 
is  all  raifed  on  mafonry.  The  outward  line 
of  the  wear,  K,  K,  K,  regulates  the  height 
of  water  in  the  canal ;  the  higher  that 
edge  is,  the  higher  is  the  water.  The 
river  Medlock y  thus  enlarged,  falls  fifteen 
inches  over  that  edge  of  mafonry,  into  a 
frefh  furface  of  water,  marked  L,  L,  L; 
this  is  likewife  all  raifed  of  flone-work; 
near  the  center  of  it  is  a  well  M  of  eleven 
yards  diameter,  down  which  the  whole  river 
falls  feveral  yards  depth.  It  is  received  at 
bottom  in  a  fubtcrraneous  pafTage,  marked 
N,  N,  and  flows  out  at  O,  where  it  ap- 
pears a  common  river,  falling  into  the  /r- 
"well,  at  P. 

The  fubtcrraneous  pafTage  N,  was  made 
of  that  length,  for  a  very  material  reafon ; 
at  Q^  is  a  communication   between  "the 

end 


[  '^^1  ] 

tnd  of  the  pafTage  and  the  furface  of  the 
water  above,  in  the  nature  of  a  fmaller 
well,  but  the  mouth  plugged  up  ;  this  is 
made  with  defign  to  clear  the  palTage  of 
all  mud  or  rubbiHi  that  might  accumulate 
in  time  at  the  bottom  of  the  well  M,  by 
drawing  the  plug,  and  letting  down  a 
heavy  fall  of  water,  to  drive  out  fuch  rub- 
bifh  at  the  mouth  O. 

The  reafon  why  the  wear  was  made  of 
this  form,  was  to  command  a  greater  line 
of  extent,  within  a  fmaller  general  fpace 
than  if  it  was  a  plain  circle,  fquare,  or  other 
iimple  form.  The  circumference  is  366 
yards,  which  was  neceifary  for  the  quan- 
tity of  water  to  be  carried  off;  now  a  cir- 
cle of  that  circumference  could  not  be  con- 
tained within  the  outward  bounds  of  the 
enlarged  river,  and  at  the  fame  time  leave 
Ipace  enough  for  a  body  of  water  around  it. 

The  lines  in  the  plan,  marked  R,  R, 
denote  a  fubterraneous  palTage,  to  drain 
off  all  fuperfluous  water  at  fbme  houfes 
and  warchoufes  at  S,  S,  and  alfo  from  the 
above-mentioned  one  at  F.  At  T  is  a 
well  and  plug,  as  before  defcribed  at  Q^ 
for  the  fame  purpofe  of  cleanfing  the  paf- 
fage  from  mud  and  rubbidi.     The  water 

Vol.  III.  S  thus 


[    258    ] 

thus  collected  flows  into  the  river  Medlock 
atU. 

The  general  defign  of  thefe  works  is, 
undoubtedly,  great  -,  the  whole  plan  fhews 
a  capacity  and  extent  of  mind  which  fore- 
fees  difficulties,  and  invents  a  remedy  be- 
fore the  evil  exifts.  The  connexion  and 
dependence  of  the  parts  on  each  other 
are  happily  imagined,  and  all  exerted  in 
concert,  to  command,  by  every  means,  the 
wilhed  for  fuccefs :  The  genius  of  the 
engineer  deferved  it ;  but  the  idea  is  more 
beautiful  in  fpeculation  than  ufeful  in  prac- 
tice y  at  leaft  it  appears  fo  to  me  :  But  I 
Ihould  apologize  for  criticiiing  works  of 
fo  noble  a  tendency,  and  fo  excellently  in- 
vented ',  excufe  my  being  fo  free  as  to  ex- 
prefs  the  idea  I  have  of  the  defeds  of 
thefe  works  -,  aifurlng  you  that  I  venerate, 
no  lefs  than  the  warmeft  of  his  admirers, 
the  mafterly  genius  that  planned  them. 

The  grand  defign  of  the  wear  was  to 
preferve  the  canal  free  from  the  influence 
of  floods,  ^c.  It  was  expected,  that  in 
the  moll  boIfl:erous  times,  in  common  ri- 
vers, this  would  always  be  fmooth,  and 
free  from  every  inequality.  But  the  event 
has   turned   out   otherwife.      The  whole 

furface 


[    259    ] 

furface  has  more  than  once  been  totally 
overflowed,  the  hexagon,  well,  and  all,  one 
general   flood,    and   the  outward   mound 
rounded  of  earth,  to  confine  the  water, 
every  where  overflowed  by  it,  confequent- 
ly  the  canal  received  a  much   larger  por- 
tion of  water  than  ever  Mr.  Brindley  de- 
figncd   it  fhould,   and  the  inconveniencies 
of  an  unreftrained  tide  either  happ€ned> 
or  might  have  done.     But  the  wear  was 
confeflTedly  found  unequal  to  its  purpofe, 
which  occafioned  the  making  the  bafon, 
marked  W,  into  which  the  water  runs  in 
floods,  and  over-flows  a  regular  bank  made 
for  that  purpofe,  X,  X.     But  this  refource 
has  been  fince  found  infufficient,   and  not 
only  a  fecond  one  of  the  fame  kind,  but 
alfo  a  general  lowering  of  the  mound  of 
earth  around  the   waters  of  the  Medlock^ 
inclofing  the  wear,  are  now  in  fpeculatiouo 
Thefe  circumftances  prove  fufiiciently,  that 
this   elaborate  and   mofl   coftly    work   is 
nearly  ufelefs. 

A  very  fmall  addition  of  expence  in 
the  ere<ftion  would  have  prevented  all 
thefe  inconveniencies.  Had  the  central 
well  been  twice  as  large,  or  of  a  more  fit 
proportion  to  the  contingent  body  of  wa- 
S   2  tcr* 


[     26o     J 
*  tcr>   and    the   correfpondlng  caverns   the 
fame,  all  the  enfuing  difficulties  would  have 
been  prevented. 

But  when  the  v^^ear  was  found  unequal 
to  the  end  propofed,  the  fhifts  made  ufe  of 
to  remedy  it,  fuch  as  the  bafon  W,  and  the 
defigned  lowering  of  the  banks,  &c,  all  ap- 
pear, in  my  humble  opinion,  inadequate  to 
the  purpofe,  and  by  no  means  confiftent 
with  the  former  plan;  they  are  little  better 
than  letting  the  water  take  its  natural 
courfe;  which  one  would  apprehend  the 
worft  of  all  courfes,  from  the  vaft  expence 
at  which  an  artificial  one  was  made.  I 
fhould  fuppofe,  a  new  cavern  and  well 
would  have  been  more  confiftent  with  the 
firft  defign,  and  have  anfwered  the  wifhed 
for  end  in  a  more  fure  and  regular  manner : 
and  if  very  great  floods  (fuch  as  never  yet 
happened)  are  to  be  guarded  againft,  the 
new  cavern,  or  fubterrane,  might  have  been 
large  enough,  occalionally,  to  admit  the 
water  difcharged  by  more  than  one  well ; 
on  which  plan  feveral  might  be  made  to  be 
kept  plugged,  like  the  forcing  ones  at  Q^ 
and  T,  and  to  be  opened  only  in  floods. 
Upon  this  principle,  fuch  additions  might 
be  made  at  Y  and  Zj    the  dotted  lines 

there, 


[       26,       ] 

there,  mark  a  new  channel  into  the  Med- 
locky  and  a  fubterrane  to  another  well. 

As  the  depth  of  water  upon  L  is  only 
fifteen  inches,  it  certainly  would  be  no  dif- 
ficult matter  to  effedl  this  addition;  the 
water  might  eafily  be  fenced  out  by  ma- 
fonry,  around  a  fpace  to  work  in,  and  the 
pafTage  might  be  carried  on,  and  arched 
under  ground. 

Another  point,  in  which  thefe  works 
fell  fhort  of  expedlation,  is  the  effedt  of  the 
fubterraneous   drains ;     it   was   imagined, 
that  the  fuperfluous  water  through   thofe 
drains,  would,  at  all  times,  freely  flow  into 
the  Medlock  at  U  j  but  inftead  of  that,  the 
water  of  the  Medlock  as  often  flows  into  the 
drain,   which  has  very  bad  confequences, 
for  it  totally  counteradls  the  very  principles 
of  a   drain,    and  likewife   flows    back  fo 
ftrongly    upon    the   water-wheel    which 
draws  up  the  coals  through  the  well  E, 
that  the  power  of  the  wheel  is  greatly  im- 
peded, infomuch  that  the  work  of  drawing 
up  the   coals,    which  can,    at   very   low 
water,  be  done  at  the  rate  of  a  boat  load  in 
twenty  or  twenty-five  minutes,  takes  forty- 
five  when  the  water  is  high  :  or,  in  other 
words,    encreafes  the  labour  fifty  -^er  cent, 
S   1  This 


ti 


[   262   ] 

This  evil  appears  to  be  caufed  by  the  fub- 
terraneous  palTages  being  funk  too  deep,  by 
which  means  the  mouth  U  is  too  much 
comnianded  by  the  waters  of  the  Med- 
lock. 

Having  taken  this  view  of  the  works  in 
Cafile-Jicldy  we  next  took  pofleflion  of  the 
pleafure  boat  we  had  before  fpoke  for,  and 
peered  for  TVorJley.  The  firft  objects  we 
met  with,  were  two  wears  more  at  Corn^ 
broke,  formed  on  the  fame  principles  as 
that  in  the  Cajile-field,  fwallowing  up  ri- 
vulets in  central  wells,  which  convey  the 
water  in  fubterraneous  pafTages  under  the 
canal,  and  permit  it  to  rife  again  on  the 
other  fide,  and  flow  on  in  its  ufual  courfe. 

Faffing  on,  the  canal  ruqs  chiefly  along 
the  fides  of  natural  banks ;  which  courfe 
was  very  judicioufly  chofe  for  the  conve- 
nience of  poiTeffing  not  only  one  bank  per- 
fedtly  firm  and  fecure,  but  plenty  of  earth 
ready  for  making  the  other.  Juft  before 
we  came  to  Throjlle-nejl  Bridge,  I  obferved 
a  projeding  piece  of  m.afonry  in  the  canal, 
which,  on  enquiry,  I  found  to  be  the  cafe 
of  a  canal  door,  for  I  know  not  what  other 
name  to  give  it :  It  is  upon  the  fame  prin- 
ciple as  that  at  the  mouth  of  the  fubter- 

ranean 


[    263    ] 

rancan  paiTagc,  in  which  the  boats  unload 
in  Cajllc-Jield.  The  contrivance  and  de- 
fign  of  thefc  doors  are  admirable,  but  as 
many  of  them  will  occur  in  this  tour  of 
the  navigation,  it  will  not  be  improper  to 
explain  the  conftrudion  of  them  here. 

In  the  fketch,  Plate  IV,  Fig.  4,  A  re- 
prefents  one  fide  of  the  channel  of  the 
canal,  being  walled ;  B,  is  the  floor  of  it  j 
C,  C,  are  two  doors,  fixed  in  the  pofition 
they  appear  in,  and  turning  on  hinges  at 
bottom,  d,  dj  d,  d.  The  doors  have  a  free- 
dom of  rifing,  but  cannot  fall  lower ;  now 
it  is  obvious  from  this,  that  in  cafe  the 
bank  A,  breaks,  and  the  water  ruflies  out 
of  the  breach,  the  decreafe  of  prefTure  on 
the  doors  C,  C,  will  raife  them  up  at  once 
to  e,  e,  (where  they  will  be  fixed  againft 
projeding  irons  made  for  that  purpofe,) 
as  the  water  at  F,  F,  will  then  natu- 
rally force  them  up.  The  confequence 
of  which  is,  the  lofing  no  more  than  the 
water  contained  between  the  doors  i  and 
if  the  bank  fhould  break  at  F,  yet  the 
quantity  of  water  loft  would  be  but  trifling. 
I  have  thrown  the  doors  near  one  another, 
for  your  fully  underflanding  the  principle 
upon  which  they  are  defigned  ;  but  in  the 
S  4  canal 


[  264  ] 
canal  they  are  at  a  diltance  from  each 
other  in  divers  places.  The  flopping  the 
lofs  of  water  is  of  great  confequence,  not 
only  to  lefTen  the  mifchief  of  the  mere  lofs, 
in  preventing  the  navigation  going  forward, 
'but  alfo  in  lellening  greatly  the  damage 
the  country  would  fuiter  from  being  over^ 
fiowed;  a  point  of  great  importance. 

Next  we  came  to  Leicefler  Bridge,  (un- 
der it  another  canal  door,)  and  paffing 
through  it  I  obferved,  on  the  left  hand,  a 
Imall  water-fall,  which  is  the  mouth  of  a 
main  drain  made  by  the  farmer,  with 
fmaller  ones  that  lead  into  it,  all  covered  : 
The  excellent  effect  of  which  is  here  ftrik- 
ingly  vifible  ;  for  the  land  on  that  fide  was 
perfectly  dry,  but  on  the  other  fide  the 
canal  very  wet,  though  not  much  rain  haj 
faLen. 

At  Weather-Meetings  we  paiTed  another 
canal  door. 

Paffing  the  mouth  of  the  canal  that  leads 
to  Al:ringbam,  Gfr.  and  under  rayhr's 
Bridge,  you  catch  a  view  cf  Mars  Bridge 
in  a  pretty  fituation,  the  furrounding  coun- 
try fine  i  you  look  over  it,  fcattered  with 
feats,  houfes,  cfr.  in  a  pleafing  manner. 
This  part  oi  the  canal  runs  through  Traf- 

ford 


[   ^(>s   ] 

JhrJ  Mofsy  which  is  a  peat  earth  black 
moor :  It  is  great  pity  that  the  noble  ad- 
vantage of  a  water  carriage  through  the 
heart  of  this  moor,  to  fo  fine  a  market  as 
Manchejier,  does  not  induce  the  owners  to 
cultivate  this  wafte  tra6t,  which  might, 
beyond  all  doubt,  be  applied  to  numerous 
ufes,  far  more  profitable  than  yielding  peat 
in  a  country  fo  abounding  with  coals. 

The  next  objedt  that  prefents  itfelf,  is 
the  work  at  Barton  Bridge,  which  is  one 
of  the  principal  undertakings  in  the  whole 
navigation,  and  a  wondrous  one  it  certain- 
ly is.  The  canal  is  here,  in  its  ufual 
breadth,  carried  {Roman  aqueduct  like) 
on  arches,  over  the  large  and  navigable 
river  IrwelL 

The  aquedudl  Is  two  hundred  yards  long, 
and  thirty-fix  feet  wide ;  it  crofTes  the  Ir- 
well  on  three  large  arches,  the  center  of 
which  fpans  fixty-three  feet ;  and  is  car- 
ried with  amazing  labour  through  a  val- 
ley, filled  up  to  receive  it.  The  view, 
Plate  V,  which  I  took,  ftanding  on  Barton 
Bridge,  will  better  explain  this  furprizing 
work. 

A.  I3  the  river  IrwelL 

B.  A 


[     266     ] 

B.  A  lock-gate,  through  which  the 
barges  are  let  that  navigate  the  ri- 
ver, on  account  of  the  obllru(5lion 
of  the  cafcade,  C. 

D.  D.  A  gang-way  from  one  fide  to  the 
other. 

E.  The  canal. 

F.  The  pleafure-boat,  drawn  by  one 
horfe. 

The  effed:  of  coming  at  once  on  to  Bar^ 
ton  Bridge^  and  looking  down  upon  a  large 
river,  with  barges  of  great  burthen  failing 
on  it ;  and  up  to  another  river,  hung  in 
the  air,  with  barges  towing  along  it,  form 
altogether  a  fcenery  fomewhat  like  en* 
chantment,  and  exhibit  at  once  a  view 
that  mufl:  give  you  an  idea  of  prodigious 
labour  i  for  the  canal  is  here  not  only  car- 
ried over  the  Irwell,  but  likewife  acrofs 
a  large  valley,  being  banked  up  on  each 
iidc  in  a  furprizing  manner,  to  form  a 
mound  for  the  water,  and  the  channel 
alfo  filled  up  to  the  ufual  depth,  that  the 
banks,  at  a  place  where  they  are  entirely 
artificial,  and  confequently  weaker  than 
where  natural,  might  not  be  endangered 
by  the  great  prelTure  of  fo  large  a  body  of 

water 


[    267    ] 

water  as  the  depth  here  filled  up  would 
have  contained :  And  I  fliould  remark, 
that  it  is  a  maxim  throughout  this  whole 
navigation,  to  keep  the  canal  of  an  equal 
depth  every  where  :  I  believe  it  fcarce  ever 
varies  above  fix  inches  -,  from  four  feet,  to 
four  feet  fix  inches. 

The  method  Mr.  Brindley  takes  to  fill  up 
a  channel,  where  too  deep,  is  a  moft  admi- 
rable one  ;   He  builds  two  very  long  boats, 
fixes  them  within  two  feet  of  each  other, 
and  then  eredts  upon   them  a  triangular 
trough,  large  enough  to  contain  feventeen 
tons  of  earth  ;  The  bottom  of  this  trough 
is  a  line  of  trap  doors,  which,  upon  draw- 
ing a  pin,  fiy  open  at  once,  and  difcharge 
the  whole  burthen  in  an  inftant,     Thefe 
boats  are  filled  any  where  from  the  banks 
where   the  earth  is  in  fuperfluous  quanti- 
ties, by  wheel-barrowing  it  on  a  plank, 
laid   from  the  ihore,  on  to  the  trough: 
The  boat  is  then   drawn  over  the  fpot, 
which  is   to  be  filled  up,   and  the  earth 
there  dropped  :   It  is   aftonifliing  what  a 
vafl  faving  is  made  by  this  invention  :  In 
common  management  to  conduct  a  canal 
level  acrofs  a  valley,   and  without  locks, 

would 


[  268  ] 
would  confumc  the  revenue  of  a  whoI« 
county  J  but  fuch  inventions  as  thefe  eafe 
the  expence  at  leaft  5000/.  per  cent. 
The  following  fketch,  Plate  VIII.  Fig.  i. 
will  give  a  clearer  idea  of  thefe  boat-wag- 
gons. 

A.  The  boat    that  appears  on  a  fide 
view. 

B.  The  trough,  fupported  by  the  pieces 

V>j    ^-^9    ^.^» 

D.  The  ends  of  the  boats. 

E.  That  of  the  trough. 

I  {hould  tell  you,  that  any  part  of  this 
aqueduct  can  be  repaired  without  damag- 
ing the  reft  of  the  canal,  or  lofing  more 
water  than  is  contained  within  a  fmall 
ipace  on  each  fide  the  part  decayed ;  for  fe- 
veral  doors,  of  the  fame  nature  as  thofe 
already  defcribed,  are  fixed  in  the  channel ; 
and  alfo  trap-doors,  or  tubes,  (if  I  may  fb 
call  them,)  at  the  bottom,  &c.  of  the  aque- 
ducft,  through  which,  by  drawing  a  few 
plugs,  the  water  would  prefently  be  dif- 
charged  into  the  Irwell,  and  the  part  to  be 
repaired,  laid  dry  at  once;  a  contrivance, 
which  is  undoubtedly  of  vaft  confequence. 

But 


[    269    1 

But  there  are  other  works  at  Barton 
which  claim  our  attention  befides  the 
crofling  the  river.  Two  roads  here  came 
athwart  the  navigation,  and  happening  in 
this  valley  where  the  canal  is  fo  much 
higher  than  the  level  of  the  country,  to 
have  built  bridges  would  have  coft  immenfc 
fums,  as  the  rife  would  have  required  them 
half  as  long  as  that  at  Wejitninfier.  The 
method,  therefore,  taken  by  Mr.  Brindley 
was  to  fink  the  road  gradually  on  both 
fides,  and  turning  a  large  arch,  to  carry  the 
canal  over  the  roads  as  well  as  the  river ; 
and  this  is  pradtifed  with  both.  So  that  in 
going  under  it  you  fink  gradually  on  one 
fide  and  rife  in  the  fame  manner  on  the 
other.  The  view,  Plate  VI,  will  explain 
it  clearly. 

A.  Is  the  canal. 

B.  The  wall  that  fupports  the  arch. 

C.  The  road. 

Leaving  this  fcene  of  wonders  we  paflcd 
on,  and  coming  to  Moreton  Bridge,  we  pre- 
fently  faw  a  frefli  inftance  of  attention,  to 
keep  the  water  of  the  canal  unmixed  by 
that  even  of  the  fmalleft  ftream,  for  here 
an  arch  is  turned  under  the  canal  for  a 
little  brook  to  run  through. 

From 


t    270    i 

From  hence  towards  the  brick  kiln  oil 
the  right,  and  paft  it,  I  obferved  feme  lands 
lying  very  low,  beneath  the  level  of  the 
canal ;  in  wet  feafons  they  muft  be  much 
damaged  by  the  water  of  the  naviga- 
tion. 

From  hence  you  have  a  fine  proipedt  of 
the  Duke's  houfe  at  Worjley^  and  the  lands 
adjoining* 

A  little  further  another  brook  is  carried 
under  the  canal,  by  means  of  an  arch  turned 
for  that  purpofe. 

Next  we  came  to  one  of  the  fpots  where 
the  lime  was  found,  which  proved  fo  noble 
an  acquilition  to  the  Duke.  In  carrying 
■on  the  navigation  a  vaft  quantity  of  ma- 
fonry  was  necefTary,  in  building  aquasdud:s, 
bridges,  warehoufes,  wharfs,  ^c.  &c.  and 
the  want  of  lime  was  felt  feverelyj  the 
fearch  that  was  made  for  matters  to  attempt 
to  burn  into  lime,  was  a  long  time  fruitlefs ; 
at  laft  Mr.  Brindky  met  with  a  fubflance 
of  a  chalky  kind,  which,  like  the  reft,  he 
tried ;  but  found  (though  it  was  of  a  lime., 
ftone  nature)  that,  for  want  of  adhefion  in 
the  parts,  it  would  not  make  lime.  This 
inoft  inventive  genius  happily  fell  upon  an 
expedient  to  remedy  this  misfortune.     He 

thought 


[      271      ] 

thought  of  tempering  this  earth  In  the 
nature  of  brick  earth,  cafting  it  in  moulds 
like  bricks,  and  then  burning  it ;  and  the 
fuccefs  was  anfwerable  to  his  wifhes :  In 
that  ftate  it  burnt  readily  into  excellent 
lime ;  and  this  acquifition  was  one  of  the 
moft  important  that  could  have  been  made. 
1  have  heard  it  aflerted  more  than  once, 
that  this  ftroke  was  better  than  twenty 
thoufand  pounds  in  the  Duke's  pocket  -,  but 
like  moft  common  affertions  of  the  fame 
kind,  it  is  probably  an  exaggeration.  How- 
ever, whether  the  difcovery  was  worth 
five,  ten,  or  twenty  thoufand,  it  certainly 
was  of  noble  ufe,  and  forwarded  all  the 
works  in  an  extraordinary  manner.  The 
bed  of  this  lime-marle  (which  I  think  is 
the  propereft  name  for  it)  lies  on  the  fides 
of  the  canal,  about  a  foot  below  the  fur- 
face. 

Advancing  towards  Worjley,  I  was  much 
pleafed  to  fee  many  vaft  heaps  of  the  mud 
that  came  out  of  the  canal,  mixed  up  with 
dung,  and  ready  to  lay  on  to  the  grounds. 
The  Duke  keeps  thefe  fields  in  his  own 
hands,  and  manages  them  like  an  excel- 
lent huibandman. 

At 


[      272      ] 

At  Worfley  we  pafTed  three  more  canal- 
doors,  and  a  large  ftream,  which  runs  un- 
der the  navigation. 

Arriving  at  the  head  of  the  works,  we 
were  much  flruck.  with  the  excellent  and 
ipirited  appearance  of  adtive  buiinefs  -,  for 
the  little  village  of  Worjley  looks  like  a 
river-environ  of  London  :  Here  is  a  very 
large  timber-yard,  well-flowed  with  all 
forts  of  wood  and  timbers  for  framing 
buildings,  and  building  boats,  barges,  and 
all  kinds  of  floating  machines.  The  boat- 
builders  yard  joins,  and  feveral  boats, 
barges,  ^c.  are  always  on  the  ftocks. 
Next  to  thefe  is  the  (tone  mafon's  yard, 
where  lie  vaft  piles  of  ftones,  ready 
fquared,  for  loading  barges  with,  to  con- 
vey to  any  part  of  the  navigation  where 
they  may  be  wanted,  either  for  building, 
or  repairing  of  bridges,  aqusedud:s,  wharfs, 
warehoufes,  ^c.  &c.  &c.  the  quarry  is 
juft  by  the  mouth  of  the  mine,  and  much 
is  brought  out  of  tl^e  mine  itfelf,  in  work- 
ing for  the  coals.  Thus  every  part  of  the 
whole  defign  ads  in  concert,  and  yields 
mutual  affiftance,  which  is  the  grand  art 
of  ceconomical  management. 

The 


[  '^11   ] 

The  great  curiofity  at  Worjley  is  the 
tunnel,  which  is  a  fubterraneous  canal 
hewn  out  of  the  rock  to  a  great  length 
(near  a  mile,)  and  extends  into  the  heart  of 
the  coal  mines.  The  view,  Plate  VII. 
exhibits  the  mouth  of  it,  and  hk^wife  the 
quarry  works  around  it. 

A.  The  navigation. 

B.  The  mouth  of  the  tunnel,  with  lajge 
doors  to  open  and  fhut. 

C.  The  quarry. 

D.  A  crane  of  a  very  curious  conflruc- 
tlon,  for  heaving  the  ftones  out  of 
the  quarry  into  the  barges. 

E.  Ropes  that  keep  the  crane  in  its  per- 
pendicular poiition. 

The  water  in  the  tunnel  is  upon  the  le- 
vel of  that  in  the  canal,  being  the  fame, 
fo  that  the  boats  loaded  with  coals  come 
out  of  the  very  mine  itfelf. 

The  firfl:  entrance,  for  looo  yards,  is 
fix  feet  and  an  half  wide,  and  feven  feet 
'  and  an  half  high,  including  the  water, 
"which  is  three  feet  four  inches  deep ;  it  is 
already  continued  750  yards  further,  ten 
feet  wide,  and  it  is  faid  (how  true  I  know 
not)  that  it  will  be  carried  on  at  leaft  a 
mile  and  a  half  further.    I  took  fome  time 

Vol.  III.  T  to 


[     274    ] 
to  explore  the  horrid  caverns  of  thefe  mines, 
and  found,  on   an  attentive  examination, 
that  the  method  of  conduding  the  bufinefs 
of  them,  was  nearly  as  follows : 

The  feams  (or,  in  thefe  mines,  rather 
veins)  of  coal  branch  divers  ways,  fomc  are 
above  the  tunnel,  and  fome  below  it ;  as 
faft  as  the  coal  is  got,  the  fpace  is  cleared 
and  arched  for  a  road,  to  move  the  coal 
on :  This  is  done  in  little  four-wheel  wag- 
gons, which  contain  i  o  cwf.  of  coals,  and 
is  pufhed  along  by  a  man  fetting  his  head 
and  hands  againft  it  (the  road  being  laid 
on  purpofe  for  it.)  The  roads  all  lead  to 
the  tunnel.  When  the  man  with  the 
waggon  comes  over  a  well  (of  which  there 
are  feverai)  that  is  funk  from  the  road 
through  the  arch  of  the  tunnel,  and  under 
which  the  boats  are  fixed,  he  ftops  on  a 
frame  work  of  wood,  which  turns  on  pi- 
vots, and  is  fo  contrived,  that  upon  draw- 
ing up  a  part  of  one  end  of  the  waggon, 
fome  of  the  coals  drop  out,  and  then  the 
waggon  is  tilted  up,  and  all  the  reft  fol- 
low them,  falling  into  the  boat  beneath 
either  promifcuoufly,  or  dired:ed  through 
a  tube  to  fill  a  box  at  a  time,  at  pleafure, 
which  work  is  performed  almofi:  inftanta- 

neoullyj 


neoufly,  and  the  waggon  fent  off  again  for 
a  frelh  cargo. 

But  as  the  arches  (roads)  through  the 
mine  in  many  places  crofs  each  other,  it 
would  there  have  been  impraifticable  for  a 
man  to  pufli  fo  great  a  weight  around  a 
turning;  to  remove  which  objedion,  the 
fquiire  of  the  floor  in  the  crofs  of  the  roads 
is  all  of  wood,  and  turns  upon  a  central 
pivot  of  iron,  fo  that  the  man  flopping 
when  the  waggon  com.es  exadlly  on  to  the 
fquare,  and  turning  it  till  it  faces  the  road 
he  is  to  go,  he  then  pufhes  on  without  the 
leaft  interruption. 

The  coals  that  arife  in  the  branches  of 
the  mine  below  the  tunnel  are  drawn  up 
through  wells  into  thofe  above  it,  and  then 
conveyed,  like  the  reil,  in  waggons  to  the 
boats. 

When  they  are  loaded  they  arc  linked 
together  in  a  gang;  and  for  the  conveni- 
ence of  drawing  them  out,  there  is  a  rail  on 
each  fide  the  tunnel,  for  the  perfon  who 
flands  in  the  firfl  boat  to  hold  with  his 
hands  and  draw  himfelf  along ;  which 
gives  him  fo  great  a  power,  that  a  boy  of 
feventeen  has  drawn  out  a  gang  of  twenty- 
one  boats  loaded,  which,  at  feventons  each, 
T  7.  is 


[    276    ] 

is  147  tons.  But  this  is  only  one  inftancc, 
and  out  of  th€  common  courfe  of  bufinefs  j 
they  commonly  bring  out  a  gang  at  a  time, 
which  is  four  or  fix,  and  as  foon  as  they 
are  out  of  the  tunnel,  they  are  drawn  by 
mules  to  Manchejier,  &c. 

The  tunnel,  where  it  palTes  through 
earth  or  coal,  is  furrounded  with  brick- 
work, but  through  the  rock  it  is  only  hewn 
out. 

At  the  diftance  of  about  a  thoufahd 
yards  from  the  mouth,  it  divides  into 
two,  which  branch  different  ways,  for 
the  convenience  of  loading  coals  in  the 
above  compendious  manner  in  every  part 
of  the  mine ;  and  more  branches  are  in 
contemplation :  It  has  been  afferted,  that 
thofe  who  go  up  both  paffages  travel  there- 
in three  miles ;  but  this  is  an  exaggeration. 

Every  here  and  there  along  the  tunnel 
are  wells,  bricked  from  it  to  the  top  of  the 
hill,  for  the  admiffion  of  air,  the  exhala- 
tion of  damps,  and  the  letting  down  men 
for  reparations  in  cafe  of  accidents. 

I  have  read  of  tin  tubes  for  the  convey- 
ance of  air  into  this  mine,  but  there  is  no 
fuch  thing ;  the  {hafts,  pafTages,  and  tun- 
nel fupply  it  fufficiently. 

As 


[  '^n  ] 

As  there  generally  is  much  fuperfluous 
water  in  coal  mines,  it  wa?  a  very  bene- 
ficial fcheme  to  cut  this  tunnel  for  draining 
that  water  away,  and,  at  the  fame  time,  for 
carrymg  the  navigation  into  the  heart  of 
the  colliery  :  Such  bold  and  deciuve  ftrokes 
are  the  finefl  proofs  of  inventive  genius,  of 
that  penetration  which  fees  into  futurity, 
and  prevents  obflrudlions  unthought  of  by 
the  vulgar  mind,  merely  by  forefeeing 
them  :  A  man  with  fuch  ideas  moves  in  a 
fphere  that  is  to  the  reft  of  the  world  ima- 
ginary, or  at  beft,  a  terra  incognita. 

The  beft  way  of  viewing  the  extent  of 
the  mines,  is  by  going  down  the  fhaft  and 
coming  out  by  the  tunnel :  And  fometimes 
youmuft  either  take  this  method,  (which 
was  my  own  cafe,)  or  not  fee  it  at  all ;  for 
boats  are  not  always  going  in,  nor  to  be 
had  for  that  purpofe,  but  you  will  feldom 
fail  of  an  empty  boat  within,  by  which 
your  guide  (the  hoftler,  I  think,  of  the 
inn)  will  convey  you  out. 

Near  the  head  of  the  canal  is  another 
curiofity,  very  well  worth  viewing.  It  is 
a  mill  of  a  new  conftru6tion,  with  many 
powers.  The  firft  motion  is  the  turning  a 
wheel,  twenty-four  feet  diameter,  by  a 
T  3  ii-nall 


[  278  ] 
fmall  overfhot  ftream.  This  wheel  works 
three  pair  of  grinding  ftones  for  corn,  a 
boulting  mill,  which  difcharges  the  meal 
divided  into  three  forts  of  flour,  befides 
the  feparation  of  the  pollard  and  bran ; 
and  thefe  works  are  effedled  with  hogs 
briftles,  fixed  within  the  wire  fieves.  It 
]ikewife  turns  a  machine  for  making  mor- 
tar, which  is  done  by  being  laid  upon  a 
horizontal  flone,  worked  by  a  cogged  wheel 
beneath  it ;  and  the  horizontal  ftone  turns 
two  others  that  are  fixed  obliquely,  and 
work  by  their  fridion  the  mortar  under 
them,  which  is  taken  off  as  made,  by  a 
man  who  is  ready  for  the  purpofe. 

This  little  ftream  further  turns  another 
machine,  of  excellent  ufe  :  It  is  for  fifting 
the  fand  ufed  in  the  buildings,  and  wafh- 
ing  out  the  little  ftones  that  are  in  it; 
v/hich  it  performs  very  effedually  and  ex- 
pedLtioully.  The  fketch,  Plate  VIII.  Fig.  2, 
will  explain  the  mechanifm. 

a.  Is  the  tube  from  which  the  water  ifTues. 

b.  The  hopper,    in  which  the  fand  is 

thrown  out  of  wheel-barrows. 

c.  Is  a  wier  cylindrical  fieve,  into  which 

the  fand  nlis  from  the  hopper,   and 
which,   being   turned  by  the    large 

wheel, 


1 


T„l./n.fl->p.i:'r  i;S. 


c 


[     279     J 
wheel,   fifts   the  fand,  which  drops 
through  the  wiers  into  the  wheel  f, 
and  out  of  that,  after  a  frefli  opera- 
tion, into  the  trough  gj  from  whence 
it  is  taken  in  (liovels. 
d.  Is  a  trough  for  conducing  the  ftones 
driven  by  the  water  out  of  the  end  of 
the  cylinder,  into  a  wheel-barrow  ^, 
placed  to  receive  them. 
h.  Is  a  board,   leaned  aflant  upon  the 
frame  work  of  the  machine,  for  the 
men  to  drive  up  the  wheel-barrows 
on. 
The  navigation  is  carried  a  mile  and  half 
beyond  JVorJley,  into  the  middle  of  a  large 
bog,   called  here  a  mofs,  belonging  to  the 
Duke,  and  merely  for  the  ufe  of  draining 
it,  and  conveying  manures  to  improve  it : 
It    is  greatly  to  that  nobleman's    honour 
to  find  him  attending,  and  at  a  confidera- 
ble  expence,  to   matters  of  hufbandry,  in 
the  midft  of  undertakings  that  would  alone 
convey  his  name  with  peculiar  brilliancy 
to  the  lateft  pofterity. 

This  bog  is  of  large  extent,  extremely 
wet,  and  fo  rotten,  that,   before  it  is  im- 
proved, it  will  not  bear  even  a  man.     The 
Duke  begins  by  cutting  fmall  drains,  very 
T  4  near 


t  280  ] 

near  each  other,  which  foon  render  the 
furface  pretty  firm.  Then  his  barges  bring 
the  chippings  of  flone,  and  other  rubbifh, 
which  arife  in  digging  the  coals,  and  which 
are  brought  out  of  the  mine  exadtly  in  the 
fame  manner,  only  inlkad  of  going  to 
market,  to  be  fold,  they  are  converted  into 
money,  in  another  way,  by  being  brought 
hither.  This  rubbifh  is  Vv'heel-barrowed 
out  of  the  barges  on  boards,  on  to  the  land, 
which  is  greatly  improved  by  it ;  the  fur- 
face  foon  becomes  found,  the  aquatic  fpon- 
taneous  growth  difappears  by  degrees,  bet- 
ter herbage  comes,  and  thus  it  is  converted 
into  profitable  pafiure,  without  any  par- 
ing, burning,  or  ploughing.  Some  of  the 
longer  fhivers  of  the  flone  will  not  crumble 
with  the  frofts  j  fjch  are  picked  up,  laid 
in  heaps,  and  carried  back  to  th«  ftone 
yard,  where  they  are  fquared  for  buildings, 
or  converted  to  other  ufes. 

As  faft  as  the  bog  becomes  improved, 
the  canal  is  extended,  for  the  fake  of  going 
on  with  the  work;  and  almoH:  at  the  end 
of  it  his  Grace  is  building  a  fmall  houfe, 
for  an  overfeer,  fituated  upon  land  which 
once  would  not  have  borne  even  the  men 
cmvilGycd  nov/  in  building  on  it. 

This 


[     28r     ] 

This  improvement  is  of  a  new  kind, 
and  peculiarly  ufeful  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  quarries,  (lone  mafons  yards,  mines  in 
rocks,  &c.  &c.  In  this  inftance  it  is  of 
noble  advantage,  for  the  rubbifh  would  be 
troublefome  at  V/orJley,  and  expenfive  to 
carry  out  of  the  way ;  fo  that  this  improve- 
ment muft  be  conlidered  as  another  part 
of  this  grand  whole,  which  is  fo  admi- 
rably conned:ed,  and,  by  itfelf,  fo  aftonifh- 
ingly  fupported. 

At7F(?r/7^j/ land  letts  from  2qj.  to  3/.  per 
acre.   Farms  rife  from  20/.  to  100/.  a  year. 

The  next  bulinefs  is  to  view  the  other 
branch  of  the  canal,  which  extends  to  Al' 
tringhamy  ^c.  and  for  this  purpofe  you  re- 
turn to  Manchcfier  to  lie,  and  keep  the 
pleafure-bcat,  to  be  ready  at  Cajile-Jield  the 


next  morning. 


After  arriving  in  the  old  courfe  at  the 
branching  off,  you  firft  come  to  Longford- 
bridge,  under  which  is  a  canal-door.  And 
juft  by  a  fmall  circular  wear,  for  the  con- 
veyance of  a  ftream  under  the  canal,  the 
brook  falls  into  the  well,  in  the  nave  of 
the  circle,  dov^n  to  an  arched  paffage, 
which  tonveys  it  under,  and  lets  it  rife 
again  in  its  old  courfe  on  the  other  fide. 


[       282       ] 

At  Wat  erf  or  d  the  canal  extends  acrofs 
a  long  valley,  the  level  being  prcferved 
without  locks :  The  work  is  here  very 
noble  :  The  banks  of  earth  of  a  vaft  height 
and  thicknefs,  beautifully  (loped,  and  the 
whole  appearance  ftrikingly  great.  It  here 
croiTes  at  the  fame  time  a  large  brook 
much  fubje6t  to  floods  and  a  road:  Two- 
arches  carry  it  over  the  flream,  and  a 
third  over  the  road.  The  view,  Plate  IX. 
will  better  explain  it. 

A.  The  ftream. 

B.  The  wall  of  the  aquaedud:. 

C.  The  road. 

D.  The  floped  green  bank  of  the  canal. 

E.  A  meadow. 

The  three  arches  extend  80  feet.  Here 
are  trap -doors,  &c.  as  2.1  Barton  Bridge^ 
for  fecuring  the  water  of  the  canal  in  cafe 
cf  a  breach,  or  for  repairing  the  aquasdud:. 

Further  in  the  fame  valley  the  naviga- 
tion is  carried  acrofs  the  river  MerfeJ,  on 
one  arch  of  feventy  feet  fpan. 

I  ihould  remark,  that  the  canal  acrofs  this 
whole  valley  is  of  a  vaft  breadth,  and  has 
rather  the  appearance  of  a  great  navi- 
gable river  than  an  artificial  canal  cut  at 
the  expence  of  a  fingle  perfon. 

Next 


I 


[283    ] 

Next  it  is  carried  acrofs  Sale  Moor-,  un- 
der the  firft  bridge  you  catch  a  pleafing 
view,  through  the  arches  of  other  bridges, 
in  a  line,  and  at  the  end  a  church  and 
fteeple.  This  part  of  the  navigation,  from 
the  lownefs  of  the  Moor  below  the  level 
of  the  canal,  was  pronounced  by  many  to 
be  imprad:icable,  and  Mr.  Brindleys  ne 
plus  ultra-,  but  this  difficuhy  was  removed 
by  perfeverance  and  fpirit;  a  complete  bed 
was  made  for  the  canal,  raifed  at  bottom  as 
well  as  the  fides,  fufficient  for  condudl- 
ing  the  water  on  a  level.  This  was  ef- 
fected by  making  a  vaft  cafe  of  timber  for 
the  whole  work :  Great  piles  of  deal  were 
fixed  as  a  mound  to  keep  the  earth  in  a 
proper  pofition  to  form  the  banks;  and 
when  they  were  raifed,  the  piles  removed 
on  for  anfwcring  the  fame  work  again,  and 
the  water  brought  forwards  by  degrees, 
to  the  aftonilliment  of  thofe  who  pro- 
nounced the  work  impracticable.  It  is 
carried  over  two  brooks  here,  for  which 
arches  are  turned. 

At  Altringham  Bridge,  the  Duke  has  a 
large  warehoufe  on  the  fide  of  the  canal, 
feveral  ftories  high,  for  the  convenience  of 
flowing  and  lodging  goods,   in  the  trade 

that 


[  284  ] 
that  is  carried  on,  en  this  part  of  the  na- 
vigation :  Alio  a  wharf  for  felHng  coals, 
with  cranes  ereded  for  loading  and  un- 
loading boats :  Here,  hkewife,  his  Grace's 
people  burn  charcoal. 

Advancing  with  th«  canal,  we  come  to 
Dunbanii  paffing  through  a. lock  conftrudt- 
ed  upon  the  fame  prij^iple  as  the  canal- 
doors,  (o  often  mentioned.  Dunhcm 
fchool  is  ittn  upon  the  left ;  a  plain  and 
unornamented,  but  elegant  front ;  as  pleaf- 
ing,  of  the  kind,  as  any  one  I  remember  to 
have  ittn.  A  little  further,  we  came  to 
the  works  then  executing,  which  are  of 
the  nature  of  all  in  this  great  undertaking : 
The  canal  is  here  carried  over  tvv'o  roads, 
and  the  river  BoUarn ;  and  a  great  inequa- 
lity in  the  farface  of  the  country  remedied 
by  a  fyftem  of  locks,  of  which  there  are 
eight,  within  a  vaft  frame-work  of  tim- 
bers, in  the  diftance  of  about  thirty  yards. 
"When  finiflied,  and  the  water  navigated, 
all  thefe  locks  will  be  pafTed  by  a  gang  of 
barges,  in  lefs  than  twenty  minutes.  The 
canal  croffcs  the  roads  and  the  river,  on  vaft 
arches,  in  the  fame  manner  as  already  de- 
fcribed  and  reprefented.  The  activity  and 
ipirit  with  which  the  workmen  carry  on 

their 


[    285    ] 

their  bufinefs,  is  very  pleafing ;  carpenters, 
fmiths,  mafons,  labourers,  boatmen,  (^c. 
(s'c,  are  all  employed  in  great  numbers,  fo 
that  the  works  advance  with  great  celerity. 
Here  I  obrerved  two  very  large  barges, 
with  a  houfe  built  in  each,  and  a  chimney 
in  one :  This  is  a  floating  blackfmith's 
forge  and  fliop,  with  all  ibrts  of  tools,  &c. 
The  other  is  a  carpenter's  Ihop ;  thefe  are 
of  excellent  ufe  in  following  the  works  as 
they  advance ;  faving  all  the  trouble  and 
expence  of  repeated  eredlions  and  re- 
movals. 

The  works  are  alfo  carrying  on  by  near 
three  hundred  meo,  about  two  miles  fur- 
ther ;  -  barges  have  been  carried  thither 
by  land,  and  floated  for  the  ufe  of  the 
workmen;  but  both  parts  of  the  canal  will 
foon  join,  as  the  buflnefs  gbes  en  with 
^  much  fpirit. 

Another  part  of  his  Grace's  defign,  and 
which  he  has  a»n  2.&.  to  enable  him  to  exe- 
cute, is  to  extend  a  branch  of  his  canal 
from  Safe  Moor  to  Stockpcrt,  but  not  yet 
begun :  That  place  being  a  town  of  conli- 
derable  manufacture  and  trade,  further  very 
confiderablc  benefits  may  reafonably  be  ex- 
pected to  accrue  from  the  encreafe  of  tra,fi:c 

on 


[     286    ] 

en  the  canal  thereby  occafioncd.  This  in- 
tended branch  is,  Hke  the  rcil,  marked  in 
the  annexed  map,  Plate  X.  which  deli- 
neates the  whole  country  through  which 
the  navigation  extends. 

A,  A,  A.  Is   the  Duke's  navigation  fi- 

nillied. 

B,  B,  B.   Ditto  unfinilhed. 

C,  C,  C.  Courfe  of  the  old  navigation. 
[]  acrofs  the  canal  —  The  canal-doors. 
But  here  I  fliould  add,  that  a  fcheme, 

much  greater  than  any  thing  yet  executed, 
is  in  contemplation,  though  not  yet  come 
before  Parliament.  His  Grace  was  firll 
enabled  to  extend  his  canal  to  the  Hemp- 
Jlonesy  (fee  the  Map;)  but  my  Lord  Gower, 
and  many  other  perfons,  obtaining  an  ad: 
for  a  canal  from  the  Trent  to  the  Merfey,  to 
communicate  between  the  towns  of  Hull 
and  Liverpool,  the  Duke  of  Brldgewater 
agreed  with  them  (under  authority  of  Par- 
liament) to  vary  the  courfe  of  his  intended 
canal,  and  meet  theirs  half  way,  between 
Prejlon-brook  and  Rimcorny  and  then  the 
two  canals,  united,  to  be  carried  to  the 
Merfey  at  Runcorn. 

Since  that  Mr.  Brmdley  has  viev/ed  the 
river  at  Runcorn,  and  is  of  opinion,  that 

the 


VolJlIMiuX. 


/ 


Stockport 


E  of  Mizn  s. 


'^mi:^ 


A  Plan 

of  the 
]VAVI&IBL£  C/K/IZ. 


V'    [;        irrwisdi/c/i 


\^  Onzpm/iaa 


^  as,^«^^  .^*^«^ 


[  287  ] 
the  navioratlonmio:ht  be  carried  over  it  in  an 
aqu£EdLi(ft,  and  then  forwarded  diredly  to 
Liverpool.  And  we  may  expetl,  in  a 
few  years,  to  hear  that  his  Grace  has 
completed  his  navigation  this  way,  by 
reaching  the  Mcrfey  at  Runcorn  Gap  ;  after 
which,  this  canal  will  undoubtedly  be  the 
eafieft,  cheapeft,  and  beft  way  of  fending 
goods  of  all  kinds  from  and  to  Liverpool 
and  Manchejler. 

It  is  to  that  period  his  Grace  looks  for  a 
reimburfement  of  the  immenfe  fums  this 
navigation  has  and  will  cod  him:  The 
benefit  of  water  carriage  for  his  coals  at 
Worjley  to  Manche/lery  Altringhaniy  &c. 
is  certainly  a  great  advantage ;  but  not  near 
fufficient  to  repay  the  expence  of  fuch  vaft 
undertakings;  but  when  two  fuch  confi- 
derable  trading  and  manufaduring  towns 
as  Manchejler  and  Liverpool  communicate, 
by  means  of  this  navigation,  at  a  cheaper  and 
eafier  rate  than  by  the  old  one,  there  is  no 
doubt  but  his  Grace  will  meet  with  that 
profitable  return  his  noble  fpirit  fo  truly 
deferves. 

This  fcheme  is  a  vafc  one,  and  worthy 
fo  bold  and  daring  a  genius.  The  river 
Merfey,  at  that  place,   i3  five  hundred  and 

fixtv 


[    288    ] 

fixty  yards  wide  -,  and  at  fpring  tides  the 
water  flows  near  eighteen  feet  perpendi- 
cular. The  mafts  of  vefTels,  which  na- 
vigate the  river  itfelf,  are  faid  to  be  fevcnty 
feet  high;  add  to  all  this,  that  the,  river 
is  fome times  rough  and  boifterous :  It  is 
planned,  notwithftanding  thefe  tremendous 
difficulties,  to  carry  the  canal  acrofs  the 
river.  The  greateft  undertaking  (if  exe- 
cuted) that  ever  yet  was  thought  of,  and 
will  exceed  the  nobleft  works  of  the 
Romans,  when  mafters  of  the  world ;  or 
the  legendary  tales  even  of  Semiramis  her- 

felf. 

The  excellency  and  utility  of  the  plan  are., 
however,  indifputable:  If  the  canal  was  car- 
ried diredly  to  the  town  of  LiverpooU  there 
would  at  once  be  a  complete,  eafy,  fafe,  and 
cheap  navigation  from  that  great  fea-port 
diredly  to  Manchejier,  and  all  the  other 
towns  and  places  near  which  the  canal 
goes.  The  prefent  navigation  is  that  of 
the  river  Merfey,  or,  in  other  words,  an 
arm  of  the  fea  for  feveral  miles,  which  is  at 
beft  but  an  infecure  navigation  for  inland 
boats,  not  to  fay  a  dangerous  one,  and 
occafions  fuch  precautions  of  the  expenfive 
kind,  that  the  carriage  of  goods  can  never 

be 


[    289     ] 

behalf  fo  cheap  or  regular  as  upon  a  canal. 
This  river  partakes,  with  others,  of  dif- 
advantages,  to  which  canals  are  not  fubje(5l, 
fuch  as  tides,  floods,  working  one  way 
againft  a  ftream,  &c.  &c.  from  all  which 
the  new  navigations  are  pcrfedly  free ;  add 
to  this,  the  old  navigation  here  is  cramped 
with  ten  times  the  number  of  locks,  that 
the  canal  would  be. 

But  fomething  fure  is  due  to  the  execu- 
tion and  polTeffion  of  works,  which  com- 
mand the  attention  and  admiration  of  all 
Europe:  The  number  of  foreigners  who 
have  viewed  the  Duke  of  Bridgewater\ 
prefent  navigation,  is  furprizing;  what 
would  it  be  if  his  Grace  was  to  extend  it 
over  a  boifterous  arm  of  the  fea: — Tr» 
exhibit  a  navigation  afloat  in  the  air,  with 
fliips  of  an  hundred  tons  failing  full  mailed 
beneath  it.     What  a  fplendid  idea!* 


*  In  fome  of  the  controverfial  writings,  publiflied 
on  the  propofition  of  a  navigation  from  Hull  to  Ltver- 
^ooly  the  prejudiced,  or  rather  interefted  people,  who 
were  (launch  friends  to  the  old  navigations,  and  by  the 
by,  ridiculed  canals^  in  a  manner  which  mult  now, 
while  fuch  great  fuccefs  attends  them,  turn,  I  think,  to 
their  fhame ,  among  other  arguments  alTerted  the 
fufficicncy  of  the  navigation  to  Liverpool  already  exit- 
ing, a  ftrolce  in  one  of  their  nnfwerers  is  excellent: — 
♦'  The  delays  and  inconveniences  render  this  (the  old) 

Vol.  III.  U  jiavf- 


[       290       ] 

Upon  the  whole,  the  uncommon  fpirlt 
which  aduated  his  Grace  the  Duke  of 
Bridgeivater  in  defigning  and  executing 
fuch  noble  works,  can  never  be  fuffici- 
ently  admired  :  At  an  age  when  moft 
men  aim  only  at  pleafare  and  diffipaiion, 
to  fee  him  engaged  in  undertakings,  that 
give  employment  and  bread  to  thoufands  -, 
that  tend  fo  greatly  to  advance  the  agricul- 
ture, manufactures,  and  commerce,  of  an 
extenfive  neighbourhood;  in  a  word,  that 
improve  and  adorn  his  country,  is  a  fight 
fo  very  uncommon,  and  fo  great,  that  it 
muft  command  our  admiration.  Nor  was 
it  lefs  to  his  Grace's  honour,  that,  in  the 
execution  of  thefe  fpirited  fchemes,  he  had 
the  penetration  to  difcern  the  characters 


*'  navigation  ineffectual  for  the  conveyance  of  the  pro- 
"  duce  even  of  the  couiity  of  Chejier  ;  as  far  the  moft 
"  confiderable  part  of  the  cheeje  produced  in  that  county 
*'  is  now^  carried  by  land  parallel  with  the  tuhole  length 
*'  of  this  EXCELLENT  navigation,  to  Frodjham-hridge 
"  and  Bank-quay  ;  from  which  places  it  is  conveyed 
"  by  flats  to  Liverpool^  there  to  be  re-Hiipped  for 
*'  London^  and  other  markets  ;  and  Salt,  the  other 
*'  fl<^t'^<^  article  of  this  county,  is  fen t  in  great  quan- 
'*  tit'u's^  all  by  land  carriage^  from  Northivicb  to  Man" 
*'  chcJier^  for  the  fupply  of  that  town,  and  a  very 
**  extenfive  and  populous  neighbourhood,  notwith- 
'*  ftanding  the  prefent  navigable  com7rmmcatio7i  between 
"  thofe  places." 

ofl 


[       291       ] 

of  mankind  fo  much,  as  to  fix  on  thofd 
people  who  were  formed  by  nature  for  tlie 
bufincfs  j  to  draw  forth  latent  merit;  to 
bring  from  obfcurity  one  of  the  mod  ufe- 
ful  genius's  that  any  age  can  boaft  ;  tD 
throw  that  genius  at  once  into  employ- 
ment ;  to  give  a  free  fcope  to  his  bold 
ideas ;  to  be  unfparing  of  money  in  fup- 
porting  them  ;  and  to  keep  him  conliantly 
in  a  lituation  of  rendering  his  talents  ufe- 
ful  to  his  country;  all  prove  that  his  Grace 
has  a  mind  fuperior  to  common  prejudice  ; 
that  he  is  one  of  thofe  truly  great  men, 
who  have  the  foul  to  execute  what  they 
have  the  genius  to  plan. 

I  remain,  dear  Sir, 

yours,  very  fiacerely. 


V  2,  LET- 


[      292      ] 


LETTER      XX. 

T  Took  the  road  from  Dunham  to  Kmits- 
ford :  In  that  trad:,  land  letts  from  20/. 
to  ^fs^s.  per  acre.  Farms  rife  from  40  /.  to 
200  /.  a  year.  They  reckon  the  produ6t 
of  a  cow  at  5  /. 

About  Knutsford  there  are  chiefly  two 
foils,  clay  and  fand.  The  average  rent  is 
about  1 6  J.  an  acre.  Farms  are,  in  gene- 
ral, about  20/.  or  30/.  but  fome  of  150/. 
and  200/.  a  year. 
Their  courfes, 

1 .  Fallow 

2.  Wheat 

3.  Barley 

4.  Oats. 
And, 

1.  Fallow 

2.  Wheat 

3.  Barley 

4.  Clover  for  two  or  three  years 

5.  Wheat. 

The  quantity  of  wheat  fown  is  but 
trifling.  For  barley  they  plough  three  or 
four  times,  fow  three  bufhels,  and  gain,  at 

an 


[     293     ] 
an  average,  five  quarters.     For  oats  they 
plough  once,   fow  five  bufliels,  and  gain 
from  forty  to  fifty.     Very  few  turneps  arc 
fovvn  by  farmers,  but  fome  by  gentlemen. 

The  farmers  are  getting  more  into  tillage 
than  formerly,  and  to  their  prejudice,  for 
barley  will  only  grow  with  much  manure. 
The  town  of  Manchejlcr  fetting  up  malt- 
kiln§  in  oppofition  to  thofe  of  Torkjljiret 
is  what  encourages  the  farmers  to  extend 
their  tillag-e. 

Clover  they  fow  with  barley,  mow  it 
twice,  and  gain  two  ton  and  a  half  the 
firft  time,  and  about  a  ton  the  fecond. 

Potatoes  they  prepare  for  by  digging, 
generally  grafs  land  for  the  firft  crop  j 
they  flice  and  dibble  them  in  one  foot 
afunder  every  way,  twenty  bufliels  to  the 
acre  :  Hand-hoe  and  hand-weed.  The 
produce  generally  from  three  to  four  bufliels 
from  a  perch,  or  about  500  per  acre  :  — 
Wheat  after  them.     The  expences  are. 

Digging,   2/. 

Weeding,  &c.    i^s. 

Taking  up,    i  {  d.  per  bufliel. 

Marie  is  their  chief  manure  j  they  have 

it  brown,   red,   blue,  and  alfo  /liell  marie. 

They  lay  two  fquare  roods  and  an  half  ^^r 

U  3  acre. 


[     294     ] 

acre,  which  coil  them  from  3  /.  to  4  /.  lay 
it  chieiiy  upon  grafs.  Shell  marie  is  of 
fo  excellent  a  nature,  that  it  lafts  very  good 
for  ten  years,  and  the  land  conftantly  crop- 
ped— a  huibandry  not  much  to  the  credit 
cf  the  Chefr.lre  farmers.  They  know  no- 
thing of  chopping  ftubble,  but  ftack  their 
hay  at  home. 

Qood  grafs  land  letts  at  about  25  i.  per 
acre  ;  they  apply  it  chiefly  to  dairying,  and 
reckon  that  an  acre  and  half  is  fuiiicient 
for  the  fjmmer  feeding  a  cow.  Their 
breed  of  horned  cattle  is  a  mongrel,  be- 
tween the  long  and  fnort.  The  produ6t  of 
a  cow  they  reckon  at  from  5  /.  to  8  /. 
Many  give  in  cheefe  alone  to  the  amount 
Qt  61.  10  s.  others  as  follows : 

Cheefe,       -        -       -       61.   qs. 

Butter,  -  -  10 


Calf, 


o    10 

7      JO 


The  -Average  quantity  of  milk  per  day 
about  four  gallons.  They  do  not  keep 
above  three  fwine  to  twenty  cows.  Their 
winter  foe  J  is  hay  and  llraw  ;  of  the  firft 
|hey  eat  about  two  ton.     A  dairy  maid 

can 


[     295     ] 
can  take  care  of  fifteen.    The  fjmmer  joift 
is  25/.      In    the    winter  they    are   ahvavs 
kept  in  the  houfe  tied  up. 

It  is  fappofed  in  general,  that  the  famous 
Chejl:ire  cheefe  depends  more  on  the  qua- 
Hty  of  the  land,  than  on  any  particular 
receipt. 

It  has  been  found,  that  liming  and  en- 
riching the  land  has  made  it  the  worfe  for 
cheefe. 

Cold  clays  are  beneficial  foils  for  cheefe  i 
in  general,  the  woril  land  makes  the  bell: 
cheefe. 

Many  of  the  great  dairy  farmers  keep 
their  cows  like  running  horfes,  littered 
down  as  well ,  kept  perfectly  clean,  and 
fed  conllantly  with  ground  oats ;  ftraw  only 
till  C/jriJimas.  Someof  thefe  make  8/.  9/. 
and  10/.  protii  per  cow. 

The  breed  even  of  thefe  is  in  general 
fmall ;  will  not  fat  to  above  thirty- two 
ftone.  None  of  the  Lancafiire  long  horns 
will  equal  them  in  milking.  Some  far- 
mers have  got  a  crofs  breed  by  Laticapjlrd 
bulls,  but  it  has  been  found  prejudicial  to 
the  dairy. 

In  the  management  of  their  milk,  tiie  lail: 

night's  is  fet  for  cream,  and  the  milk,  with 

U  J.  the 


[    296    ] 

the  new  of  this  morn,  mixed  for  the 
cheefe ;  likewife  moft  of  the  cream  of  lafl 
night's  milk,  warmed  to  the  warmth  of 
the  new  milk.  They  ufe  nothing  but  ren- 
net for  coagulation. — The  cheefes  weigh 
from  15/^-  to  120  Z^. 

Their  tillage  is  too  trifling  co  admit  a 
general  defcription ;  but  they  reckon  the 
annual  expence  of  a  horfe  at  6/.  They 
break  up  their  ftubbles  for  a  fallow  in  May 
or  'JunCi  ftir  three  inches  deep.  The  price 
of  ploughing  per  acre,  4  j.  d  d.  and  5  s. 
Know  nothing  of  cutting  ftraw  into 
chaff. 

In  the  hiring  and  flocking  of  farms  they 
reckon  200  /.  fufficient  for  one  of  50  /.  a 
year. 

Land  fells  at  thirty  and  thirty-two  years 
purchafe. 

Tythes  both  gathered  and  com- 
pounded. 

Poor  rates  3  s.  in  the  pound.  The  em- 
ployment chiefly  fpinning  of  flax.  All 
drink  tea. 

The  farmers  carry  their  corn  fevcn 
miles ;  that  is,  to  the  Duke  of  Bridgewa- 
iers  navigation. 

Leafes  run  chiefly  for  three  lives. 

The 


I  297   ] 

The  general  cEconomy  of  their  farms 
will  be  feen  from  the  following  fketches. 
200  acres  in  all 
30  arable 
170  grafs 
>r.  150  rent 
6  horfes 
50  cows 
6  young  cattle 
5  fatting  beafls 
20  fheep 
3  men 

2  boys 

3  maids. 
Another, 

150  acres  in  all 
40  arable 
1 1  o  grafs 
jT.  1 20  rent 
35  cows 
5  fatting  beafls 

1  man 

2  boys 

2  maids. 
Another, 

130  acres  in  all 
20  arable 
1 1  o  grafs 


[   298   ] 

^.100  rent 

4  horfes 
40  cows 
10  fheep 

1  man 

2  boys 

3  maids. 
Another, 

50  acres  in  all 

5  arable 
45  grafs 

iC-45  rent 
2  horfes 
12  cows 
I  boy 

I  maid.      . 
Another, 

38  acres  all  grafs 
£•30  rent 
I  horfe 
9  cows 
I  boy. 
The  little  farmers  in  this  country  are 
reckoned  more  wretched  than  even  day- 
labourers. 

LABOUR. 

In  harveft,  is.  6d..  and  beer. 

In  hay- time,  is.td.  and  ditto, 

■   ^  In 


[     299     3 

In  winter,  is. 

Mowing  grafs,  is.  6  J,  to  2s. 

Ditching,  /i^d.  io  jd. 

I  M  P  L  E  xM  E  N  T  S, 

A  waggon,   15/. 

A  cart,  9  /. 

A  plough,  1 5  J. 

A  roller,  4  /.  ioj. 

A  fey  the,  2s.  6  d.to  ^s, 

A  fpade,  4  j.  b  d. 

Laying  a  fhare  and  coulter,  6  d.  and  iron. 

Shoeing,  is.  ^d. 

PROVISIONS,   ^c. 

Bread  —  barley. 

Cheefe,  2   d. 

Butter,  7  //.  1 8  oz. 

Beef,   2\d. 

Mutton,    yd. 

Veal,  4^. 

Pork,  j\.d. 

Milk,  f  </.  />t'r  quart,  fkim. 

Potatoes,  IX.  2d.  -ber  bufliel. 

Candles,  7  d. 

Soap,   6  ^. 

Labourer's  houfe  rent,  30^.  to  3  /. 
lirins:,  20  j-. 


At 


[    3C0    ] 

At  Knutsford  is  a  pretty  briilc  manu- 
fadure,  particularly  a  filk  mill  that  em- 
ploys eighty  women  and  children ;  the 
firll  earn  from  4j-.  to  5J.  a  week,  and 
children  from  8  ^.  to  2  /. 

Alio  a  thread  manufadure,  in  which 
men  earn  from  6s.  to  8/.  a  week;  but 
few  women  :  but  children  earn  from  i  j-. 
to  2  /. 

Likewife  a    worfted    msnufaclurci    the 
drawing  it  from  the  wool ;  the  earnings, 
iMen  12-f.  to  14/. 
Women  (fpinners)  2  s.  6  d,  to  -^  s. 
Children  (ditto)  2  /. 

I  advanced  fouthward  by  Holnis  Chapel, 
the  foil  about  that  place  is  chiefly  of  fand 
and  clay;  lets  about  20s.  at  an  average. 
Farms  from  20/.  to  300/.  a  year.  Their 
courfe  generally 

1.  Fallow 

2.  Wheat 

3.  Oats 

4.  Clover. 
And, 

1 .  Fallow 

2.  Barley 

3.  Wheat. 

Of 


; 

[     301     ] 

Of  wheat  the  average  crop  is  about 
twenty  bufhels,  of  bailey  thirty,  and  of 
oats  as  much. 

Marie  is  here  the  grand  manure ;  they 
lay  about  a  rood  and  half  on  an  acre, 
which  cofls  from  i  /.  lo  s.  to  2  /.  and  lafts 
from  twenty  to  forty  years ;  it  is  of  a 
brown  colour  mixed  with  blue.  They 
alfb  lime  their  land,  generally  mix  it  with 
dung  for  wheat;  it  cofts  them  10^/.  the 
cwf. 

Their  grafs  land  lets  from  20  j*.  to  40  j. 
^er  acre,  it  is  all  ufed  in  dairying.  Of  mea- 
dow land  they  reckon  an  acre  and  half  will 
fummer  feed  a  cow,  but  in  the  uplands  it 
takes  three  acres.  They  are  pretty  careful 
in  manuring  the  grals  with  lime  and  earth 
mixed  together. 

Their  cows  arc  of  an  ordinary  breed, 
loofe  boned ;  fome  farmers  have  aimed  at 
an  improvement  by  hancajhire  bulls,  but 
it  does  not  anfwer,  except  in  beauty.  The 
average  quantity  of  milk  is  about  five 
gallons ;  but  fome  of  Mr.  Vernon  s  near  this 
place  have  given  ten  gallons  per  day.  The 
produi^  of  a  good  cow  they  calculate  as 
follows : 

Four 


t   302   ] 

Four  cwt,  ofcheefe,  at  32/.  ^.6     ^ 
Butter  -  -         -  10 

Calf         =        -         -         -  II 

Swine  -       -       -        -  o   10 


8   19 
But  the  average  is   not   above   two  cwfi 
and  a  half  of  cheefe ;  and  the  whole  a^ 
mount  about  6  /.  or  6  /.  10  j-. 

They  reckon  that  ten  or  twelve  cows 
will  fat  three  or  four  pigs.  The  calves  fuck 
a  month.  They  calculate  feven  cows  the 
proper  number  for  a  dairy  maid.  They 
are  kept  in  the  houfe  in  winter,  and  fed 
with  hay  or  fcravv  as  the  farmer  manages: 
One  ton  of  hay  will  winter  a  cow  with 
ftraw ;   but  if  without  two  tons. 

In  the  hiring  and  flocking  farms,  they 
reckon  the  following  fums  neceifary  for 
one  of  100/.  a  year. 

Twenty  cows,      -       -       jC*  H*^ 
Implements,         -  -  40 

Three  horfes  and  gears,     -       30 
Seed,  -         -  -  10 

Rent,  -  -         -  50 

Houfekeeping,       -         -  40 

Labour,  -  -  5^ 

Swine,  -         -         -  2      ' 

The 


[     3^3     ] 
The  general  ceconomy  will  be  feen  from 
the  following  (ketches. 
400  acres  in  all 
40  arable 
360  grafs 
£.250  rent 
6  horfes 
50  cows 
1 2  young  cattle 
2  men 

2  boys 
4  maids 

6  labourers. 
Another, 

200  acres  in  all 

30  arable 
170  grafs 
£,  200  rent 

3  horfes 
30  cows 
20  fheep 

2  men 

2  boys 

3  maids 

2  labourers. 
Another, 

50  acres  all  grafs 
jC- 40  rent 

I  horfc 


[     3<^4    ][ 
I  horfc 
10  cows 
4  young  cattle 
I  boy 
I  maid. 

LABOUR. 

Inharveft,  is.  6  d,    and  board. 

In  hay  time,  is.  td.  and  ditto. 

In  winter,  lod.  to  u.  fmall  be^r  and  broth. 

Reaping  wheat,  per  acre,  3  s.  to,4  j. 

— barley,  3  j.  6  ^. 

— —  oats,  2  s.  td. 
Mowing  of  grafs,  is.  ^d.  to  2 s, (id* 
Thrafhing  wheat,   id.  />^r  bufh^L 
— — —  barley,  i  d.  ditto. 

— oats,  I  d.  ditto. 

Head-man's   wages,     10/.   arKl  10  s.   for 

wafhing. 
Next  ditto,  7  /.   I  o  J". 
Boy  of  ten  or  twelve  yeaTS,  20  j. 
Dairy  maids,  40  s.  to  5  /. 
Other  ditto,  30  j-.  to  45  s. 
Women  per  day  in  harveft,  is.  and  beer. 
In  hay  time,  7  d. 

Value  of  a  man's   board,    wadilng,    and 
lodging,  4  J-.  a  week. 

I  M  P  L  E- 


[    3<^5    1 

IMPLEMENTS,    ^c. 

A  waggon,  20/. 

A  cart,  I  o  /. 

A  plough,  27  s. 

A  harrow,   16  s. 

No  rollers. 

A  fcythe,  2  x.  6  ^.  to  5  s, 

A  fpade,  4  s. 

Shoeing,  is,  4^. 

PROVISIONS,   &c. 

Bread  —  barley. 

Cheefe,   3 1  d. 

Butter,   ^  d,     18  to  24  oz. 

Beef,  2\  d. 

Mutton,  31^. 

Veal,  3^^. 

Pork,  3  f  ^.  ^ 

Bacon,  6  ^. 

Potatoes,   41  ^.  per  peck* 

Candles,  7^/. 

Soap,  6  d. 

Labourer's  houfe  rent,  20  s.  to  35^. 

• Firing,  2ij-. 

BUILDING. 

Bricks,  12s.  /t'r  thoufand. 
Oak  timber,  2  s. 

Vol.  III.  X  Afh 


[     3^^    ] 
Afh  ditto,  9^/.  to  I  J.  2^. 
Mafon  per  day,  i  s.  6  d. 
Carpenter  ditto,  is.  6  d. 

I  forgot  to  remark,  that  all  the  horfcs  I 
have  feen  in  CheJJnre  are  of  a  very  bad 
breed,  and  worth  but  little  for  real  ufe. 

From  Newcaflle- under -line  I  had  the 
pleafure  of  viewing  the  Staffordfiire  potte- 
ries at  Burjlem,  and  the  neighbouring  vil- 
lages, which  have  of  late  been  carried  on 
with  fuch  amazing  fuccefs.  There  are 
300  houfes,  which  are  calculated  to  em- 
ploy, upon  an  average,  twenty  hands  each, 
or  6000  in  the  whole;  but  if  all  the  va- 
riety of  people  that  work  in  what  may  be 
called  the  preparation  for  the  employment 
of  the  immediate  manufadturers,  the  to- 
tal number  cannot  be  much  fhort  of  1 0,000, 
and  it  is  increafing  every  day. 

It  dates  its  great  demand  from  Mr. 
Wedgwood  (the  principal  manufadurer) 
introducing,  about  four  years  ago,  the 
cream-coloured  ware,  and  fince  that  the 
increafe  has  been  very  rapid.  Large  quan- 
tities are  exported  to  Germany,  Ireland, 
Holland,  Rnjfia,  Spain,  the  F^afi  Indie s^ 
and  much  to  America :  Some  of  the  finell 
forts  to  France,   A  confiderable  fliopkeeper 

from 


[  3^7  ] 
from  the  Vont-neuf  at  Paris,  was  lately  at 
Burjlem,  and  bought  a  large  quantity :  It 
is  poflible,  indeed,  he  came  for  more  pur- 
poles  than  to  buy  -,  the  French  of  that  rank 
feldom  travel  for  bufinefs,  which  might  be 
as  well  tranfa6ted  by  a  lingle  letter. 

The  common  clay  of  the  country  is  ufed 
for  the  ordinary  forts  ;  the  finer  kinds  are 
made  of  clay  from  Devonjlnre  and  Dorfet- 
Jhirey  chiefly  from  Biddeford-,  but  the  flints 
from  the  'Thames  are  all  brought  rough  by 
fea,  either  to  Liverpool  or  Hull,  and  fo 
by  Burton.  There  is  no  conjecture  formed 
of  the  original  reafon  of  fixing  the  manu- 
facture in  this  fpot,  except  for  the  conve- 
nience of  plenty  of  coals,  which  abound 
under  all  the  country. 

The  flints  are  firft  ground  in  mills,  and 
the  clay  prepared  by  breaking,  wafliing, 
and  fifting,  and  then  they  are  mixed  in  the 
requiflte  proportions.  The  flints  are  bought 
firft  by  the  people  about  the  country  ;  and 
by  them  burnt  and  ground,  and  fold  to  the 
manufadiurers  by  the  peck. 

It  is  then  laid  in   large  quantities,  on 

kilns,  to  evaporate  the  moifl:ure;  but  this 

\  is  a  nice  work,  as  it  muft  not  be  too  dry : 

Next  it  is  beat  with  large  wooden  ham- 

X  2  mers. 


[  3°S  1 
mers,  and  then  is  iPx  order  for  tbrowirig', 
and  id  moa  ded  into  the  forms  in  wHk  * 
is-  to  remain  :  This  is  the  mofl:  difficult 
work  in  the  whole  manufadure.  A  boy 
turns  a  perpendicular  wheel,  which,  by 
means  of  thongs,  turns  a  fmall  horizontal 
one,  juft  before  the  thrower,  with  fuch 
velocity,  that  it  twirls  round  the  lump  of 
clay  he  lays  on  it,  into  any  form  he  direds 
it  with  his  fingers. 

The  earnings  of  the  people  are  various. 
Grinders,  7  s.  per  week. 
Waihers  and  breakers,  8  s. 
Throwers,  91.  to  \zs. 
Engine  lath  men,  lOJ.  to  I2J"*. 
Handlers,  who  fix  hands,  and  other  kinds 

of  finiihers,   for  adding  fprigs,   horns, 

^c.  9  J-.  to  12  J-. 
Gilders, 

Men,  1 2  s. 
Women,  js,  6d. 
Modellers,  apprentices,  one  of  100/.  a  year. 
Prefi'ers,  8  j.  to  9  s. 
Painters,  ioj".  to  12.  s. 
Moulders  in  plaifter  of  Paris,  8  s. 


*  Mr.  Wedgwood  was  the  firft  perfon   who  intro- 
duced this  machine  into  a  porcelains  manufacture. 

In 


[  3^*9  ] 
In  general  the  men  earn  from  7  s.  to 
12  s.  Women  5  J-,  to  8/.  Boys,  chiefly 
apprentices,  but  2j.  a  week  the  firft  year, 
and  a  rife  of  3  J.  per  amiitm  afterwards. 
Before  they  are  apprentices  2  j.  9  ^.  per 
week,  as  they  then  learn  nothing.  But 
few  girls. 

In  general  we  owe  the  poiTeiTion  of  this 
mod:  flourifliing  manufadure  to  the  inven- 
tive genius  of  Mr.  Wedgwood  -y  who  not 
only  originally  introduced  the  prefent  cream 
coloured  ware,  but  has  fince  been  the  in- 
ventor of  every  improvement,  the  other 
manufadlurers  being  little  bcuer  than 
mere  imitators  y  which  is  not  a  fortu- 
nate circumftance,  as  it  is  unljcky  to 
have  the  fate  of  fo  important  a  ma- 
nufa'fture  depend  upon  the  i bread  of  one 
man's  lii^?:  However,  ne  has  lately  entered 
into  a  partnerlhip  with  a  man  of  fenfe  and 
fpirit,  who  will  have  talle  enough  to  con- 
tinue in  tho  mventing  plan,  and  not  fufftr, 
in  cafe  of  accidents,  the  manufacture  to  de- 
cline. 

I  took  the  opportunity  of  being  at  Bur^ 
Jlem,  to  view  the  .irn?.zmg  works  carrying 
on  at  Harecajile.     Tho  navigation  I   men- 
tioned in  defcribing  that  of  the  LVikc  of 
'X  3  Biidgc-^ 


[  3^^  ] 
Bridgewatery  promoted  by  my  Lord  Gower, 
and  carried  on  by  fablcription,  to  join  the 
ports  of  Ht^//  and  Liverpool,  is  carried 
acrofs  the  kingdom,  without  any  very  ma- 
terial interruption,  except  at  Harecajlle  i 
but  there  it  follows  a  valley,  which,  ccn^^ 
trary  to  moft,  terminates  againft  hills,  with- 
out any  winding  around  them  ;  fo  that  the 
navigation  muft  either  be  here  flopped, 
and  a  land  carriao-e,  like  the  American  ones, 
at  the  falls  in  their  rivers,  be  the  confe- 
quence,  or  the  range  of  hills  which  faced 
them  pierced  through  :  The  attempt  was 
an  immenfe  one  5  but  it  is  made,  and  will 
undoubtedly  fucceed. 

The  tunnel,  in  the  Duke  o( Bridge-ivaters 
navigation,  is  of  a  fmall  breadth,  as  it  is 
the  termination  of  the  canal,  and  boats 
made  on  puipofe  for  entering  it ;  but  Hare- 
cajik  being  almoft  in  the  center  of  a  navi- 
gation of  an  hundred  miles,  a  fubterrane 
muft  of  necefTity  be  fpacious  enough  to  ad- 
mit all  the  traffic  of  the  canal,  pafling  and 
reoaffing,  or  it  would  be  ufelefs.  The  ca- 
nal is  therefore  carried  under-ground  in  its 
common  breadth  and  depth  ;  it  is  twelve 
iect  v/idc,  and  nine  high ;  and  will  extend 
under  an  high  range  of  country  above  a 


mile 


[     3:>     ] 

mile  and  half.  The  hm  efumate,  or  ra- 
ther llippQlition  of  the  expence,  was 
10,00c/.  but  it  is  now  faid  that  tliat  fum 
will  prove  very  infiifficient ;  the  immen- 
fity  of  the  undertaking  not  having  (rela- 
tive to  the  ellimate)  been  duly  confiiered. 

It  is  certainly  an  amazing  work  j  about 
four  hundred  yards  of  it  are  hniflied.  The 
method  of  working,  is  linking  ihafts  like 
thofe  of  coal  pits,  in  a  line  over  the  courie 
of  the  canal  ;  engines  are  then  erected, 
and  the  earth,  rock,  coal,  and  all  the  fub- 
ftances  that  rife,  drawn  up  by  a  horfe,  which 
is  kept  regularly  employed  in  drawing  up 
the  ItutT,  as  fait  as  the  workmen  dig  it  be- 
low, in  hollowing  out  the  cavern  :  It  is 
walled,  paved,  and  arched,  a=  they  nniili. 
Other  machines,  worked  bv  wind  and  wa- 
ter,  are  ere<lted  alfo  to  draw  up  the  water : 
The  whole  work  is  carried  on  regularly, 
and  all  obftruCtions  removed  as  fait  as  they 
are  difcovered.  In  a  word,  the  lucceis  of 
the  work  is  not  doubted  ;  but  as  to  the 
extent  of  the  expence,  it  cannot  admit  of 
calculation,  as  it  is  impotiible  to  ccnjecflure 
the  nature  of  the  llrata  they  will  have  to 
cut  through,  the  hardnefs  of  the  rock,  or 
the  Quantities  cr  v/ater  with  which  they 
X  JL  v.- ill 


[      312      ] 

will  be  troubled.  I  was  told  that  the  na- 
vigation will  be  in  fome  places  near  two 
hundred  feet  below  the  furface. 

By  fuch  noble  undertakings  is  the  pre- 
fent  age  peculiarly  diftinguifhed.  When 
agriculture,  manufactures,  and  commerce 
flourifh,  a  nation  grows  rich  and  great, 
and  riches  cannot  abound,  without  exciting 
that  general  induftry,  and  fpirit  for  im- 
provement, which  at  laft  leads  to  perform- 
ing works,  which,  in  poorer  times,  would 
be  thought  v/onders. 

At  Newcajlle  is  a  confiderable  manufac- 
ture of  (hoes  and  hats ;  the  firll;  em>ploys 
above  an  hundred  hands,  who  earn  from 
lo^.  to  2  J.  1  day.  Of  the  latter  there  are 
three  or  four  hund'-ed ;  the  men  earn  fiom 
7J-.  to  lo  J-.  a  week. 

Women,  3  j^.  to  6  j. 

Children,  i/. 

P  R  O  V  I  S  I  O  N  S,  <S*r. 

Bread  —  maflin,  \d^ 
Cheefe,  3^. 
Butter,  8  d. 
Beef,  3  d. 
Mutton,  3  dy 
Veal,  3  d^ 

Milk, 


t  313  ] 

Milk,  \d.  per  pint. 

Potatoes,  4^.  per  peck. 

Poor's  houfe  rent,  40  j.  to  3 /.  iOf. 

— —  firing,  20  J-.  to  25  /. 

From  Newcafile  fouth wards  the  country 
improves  greatly  in  beauty :  1  he  foil  to- 
wards Stone  is  generally  a  Tandy  loam.  A- 
bout  that  place  it  is  alfo  fandy,  on  a  bed  of 
marie  -,  lets  from  Newcajile  to  Stone,  and 
alfo  around  that  place,  from  12  s,  to  20  j-. 
per  acre.  Farms  are  various,  rifing  from  30/. 
to  500/.  a  year.   Their  courfes  are  chiefly, 

1.  Fallow 

2.  Wheat 

3.  Oats 

4.  Barley 

5.  Clover  two  or  three  years 

6.  Oats 

7.  Beans. 

A  vile,  as  well  as  ftrange  courfe. 
Another  is, 

1.  Fallow 

2.  Wheat 

3.  Oats 

4.  Barley 

5.  Turneps 

6.  Barley 

7.  Clever, 

Which 


t    3H    ] 

Which  IS  almoft  as  odd  as  the  other. 

The  average  produdts  of  corn  are. 
Of  Wheat,      22  bufhels 
Barley,       30 
Oats,  40 

Beans,        30 
Peafe,         25 

For  turneps  they  plough  three  times  : 
Good  farmers  hoe  them  twice  :  The  ave- 
rage value  from  50  j-.  to  3/.  10  J".  They 
life  them  both  for  fheep  and  beafts.  Clover 
they  fow  with  ipring  corn,  mow  it  the 
firfl  year,  and  get  about  a  ton  and  half  of 
hay  at  a  mowing. 

Their  method  of  cultivating  potatoes, 
is  to  dung  grafs  land  well,  and  dig  it  in, 
which  cofts  'jd.  a  perch  ;  then  dibble  in  the 
flices  (tho'  fome  farmers  plant  them  whole.) 
While  they  are  growing  they  are  hand- 
hoed  and  kept  clean.  The  produce  ^co 
bufhels  at  an  average. 

The  chief  manure  in  this  country  is 
marie,  which  is  generally  laid  on  the  ara- 
ble lands  at  the  rate  of  120  loads  per  acre, 
each  twenty-five  hundred  vt^eight  ;  if  the 
marie  pit  is  at  any  diftance,  the  expence 
will  be  10  /.  or  12  /.  per  acre ;  but  if  it  is 
on   the   fame  piece,  it   will  be  done  for 

3/- 


[    315    ] 

3  /.  1  o  X.  or  4  /.  They  likewife  ufc  a  little 
lime ;  find  it  anfwers  bed  on  cold  fpringy 
land ;  they  lay  it  on  the  fallows  twenty 
bufliels  per  acre ;  the  price  ^\d. per  bufhel. 
They  know  nothing  of  chopping  the  bub- 
bles, but  flack  their  hay  at  home. 

Good  grafs  letts  at  30  j-.  per  acre  ;  it  Is 
chiefly  uled  for  dairying :  One  acre  they 
reckon  fufficient  for  the  fummer  feed  of  a 
cow.     Some  few  farmers  marie  it. 

The  breed  of  cattle  is  the  long  horned  : 
The  oxen  fat  from  forty-eight  to  eighty 
fcore.     The  product  of  a  cow  they  reckon. 

Three  hundred  weight  of  /.     j. 

cheefe,  at  27  x.         -  4     i 

Butter,         -  -  -      o   10 

Calfi       -  -  -         o   10 


The  average  quantity  of  milk  five  gal- 
lons a  day.  They  keep  about  four  hogs  to 
ten  cows,  which  is  alfo  the  number  they 
reckon  proper  for  a  dairy  maid  to  look 
after.  The  winter  food  is  hay  and  ftraw ; 
the  quantity  of  the  firfl  is  various  j  but 
many  farmers  give  their  cows  very  little 
hay,  fo  that   the  quantity  rifes  from  five 

hundred 


[    3i6    ] 

hundred  weight  to  a  ton.     Keep  them  in 
a  houfe. 

They  fat  their  hogs  from  fifteen  to  thirty- 
five  fcore. 

No  account  could  be  taken  of  their 
flocks  of  fheep,  as  they  in  general  only 
winter  them. 

In  their  tillage  they  reckon  eight  horfes 
neceffary  for  the  management  of  an  hun- 
dred acres  of  arable  :  They  ufe  three  or 
four  in  a  plough,  and  do  an  acre  and  a 
quarter,  and  an  acre  and  a  half  in  a 
day.  The  annual  expence  of  a  horfe  they 
reckon  7/. 

They  do  not  break  up  their  flubbles  for 
a  fallow  till  after  barley  fowing.  The 
price  of  ploughing  per  acre  is  5  s.  and  the 
common  depth  four  inches.  They  know 
nothing  of  cutting  ftraw  into  chaff. 

The  hire  of  a  cart,  three  horfes,  and 
driver,  per  day,  is  5  s. 

In  the  hiring  and  flocking  of  farms,  they 
reckon  350/.  a  fufficient  fum  to  take  one 
of  100/.  a  year. 

Land  fells  from  thirty  to  forty- five  years 
purchafe. 

Tythes  are  both  gathered  and  com- 
pounded f  if  the  latter. 

Wheat 


t   317  ] 

Wheat  from  3  /.  to  5  /, 
Barley,  3  s. 
Oats,  2  s. 
Hay,  IS.  6  d. 
Poor  rates  is.  6  d.  m  the  pound.     Idle- 
nefs  the  chief  employment  of  the  women 
and  children  :  All  drink  tea,  and  fly  to  the 
parillies  for  relief,  at  the  very  time  that 
even  a  woman  for  wafhing  is  not  to  be 
had.       hy   many   accounts   I   received  of 
the  poor  in  this  neighbourhood,  I  appre- 
hend  the   rates    are    burthened     for    the 
ipreading  lazinefs,  drunkennefs,  tea-drink- 
ing, and  debauchery  : — The  general  effedt 
of  them,  indeed,  all  over  the  kingdom. 

Leafes  are  various,  both  for  terms  from 
feven  to  twenty-one  years,  and  for  two  and 
three  lives. 

The  general  ceconomy  will  be  (ttn.  from 
the  following  particulars  of  farms* 
400  acres  in  all 
150  arable 
250  grafs 
£,  300  rent 
12  horf&s 
36  cows 
12  fatting  beails 
30  young  cattle 

50  Ihecp 


f    3'S    J 

50  /heep 

3  men 

1  boy 

2  maids 

6  labourers 

2  waggons 

3  carts 

3  ploughs. 
Another, 

200  acres  in  all 
•90  arable 
iiograis 
JC'^S^  rent 

9  hories 
20  cows 

3  fatting  beafb 
20  young  cattle 
20  fheep 

2  men 

I  boy 

2  maids 

3  labourers 

I  waggon 

3  carts 

3  ploughs. 
Another, 

90  acres  m  al! 
30  arable 

60  grafs 


t   319  ] 

60  grafs 
^.60  rent 
4  horfes 
6  cows 

8  young  cattle 
I  man 
I  boy 
I  maid 

1  labourer 
3  carts 

2  ploughs. 
Another,  • 

140  acres  in  all 
no  grafs 
70  arable 
^.115  rent 

8  horfes 
1 4  cows 

6  fatting  beads 
1 2  young  cattle 
10  fheep 

2  men 

I  boy 

I  maid 

£  labourers 

1  waggon 

2  carts 

3  ploughs. 

Another, 


t  320 

Another, 

125  acres  ia  all 
80  arable 
45  grafs 
^.100  rent 
8  horfes 
15  cows 
2  men 

1  boy 

2  maids 

3  labourers 
I  waggon 
3  carts 

3  ploughs. 
Another, 

50  acres  in  all 
35  arable 
15  grafs 
£-45^ent 

4  horfes 
4  cows 

3  young  catfele 

1  man 

2  carts 

I  plough. 


LABOUR. 


[       321       ] 

LABOUR. 

In  harveft,    i  s.  6  d.  and  beer. 
In  hay  time,  i  s.  2  d.  and  ditto. 
In  winter,  i  s.  and  ditto. 
Reaping  per  acre,   .4  s.   6  d. 
Mowing  barley,       1  s.   bd. 

oats,  I  J-.   A^d, 

' grafs,  I  /.    4  ^. 

Hoeing  turneps,      41.    6d. 

beans,  2s.   6  d. 

Ditching,    4  ^.  —  eight  yards. 
Threfhing  wheat,  4  j-.  6d.  twenty  bufliels. 

barley,   3  j-.  4  ^. 

• oats,       22  d.   to  2s.  6d. 

beans,    4  j.   6  d. 

Filling  marie  cart  5  s.  pe?'  1 20  loads,  and 

board. 
Fird  man's  wattes,   8  /. 
Next  ditto,  6  /. 

Boy  of  ten  or  twelve  years,  3  /. 
Dairy  maids,  3/.    ioj". 
Other  ditto,    3  /.    10  s. 
Women  per  day  in  harvcH:,  7  d.  and  beer. 

In  hay  time  ditto. 

Value  of  a  man's  board,  waflilng,  and  lodg- 
ing, 6/.   IOJ. 

Vol.  HI.  Y  I M- 


[       322       ] 

IMPLEMENTS,    &c. 

A  waggon,  20  /. 

A  cart,  1 2  /. 

A  plough,  i4.f. 

A  harrow,    1 8  j. 

A  roller,    9  /.   to  10/.   for  corn. 

A  fey  the,   3^.  6^/. 

A  fpade,    3  j.   6  ^. 

Shoeing,  i  s.  4^/. 

P  R  O  V  I  S  I  O  N  S,   e?(r. 

Bread— Wheat,   i  \  cL 

Cheefe,  3  i  ^. 

Butter,  J  {d. 

Beef,  2  i  ^/. 

Mutton,  3  I  d. 

Pork,   3  I  d. 

Bacon,   5  d. 

Milk,   {  ^/.  ^fr  pint. 

Potatoes,  4  i  r/.  per  peck. 

Candles,  7  ^.  pa^  l^. 

Soap,  6  ^. 

Houfe-rent,  2s.  6d.  to  20/. 


BUILD- 


BUILDING. 

Bricks,  per  thoufand,    1 1  j-.  6  d, 
Tilco,    I  7  s. 

Oak  timber,  ij-.  2d.  to  zs. 
Afli,    II  d.   to  J  s.  3  d. 
Hlrn,   9  ^/.   to  1 J-.  3  d. 
Carpenter /'d'r  day,    is.    6  d, 
Malbn,    is.    od. 
Thatcher,  i  s.  and  board. 

The  country  continues  to  improve  to- 
wards Rudgeley  Bridge  :  About  that  place 
the  foil  is  various  ;  clay,  fandy  gravel,  and 
loams.  The  average  rent  of  the  arable  is 
14  J-.   and  the  grafs  zos. 

Farms  rife  from  20/.  to  100/.   a  year. 

The  courfcs, 

1 .  Fallow 

2.  Wlieat 

3.  Barley 

4.  Barley. 


An( 


I..  Fallow 

2.  Wheat 

3.  Oats 

4.  Clover,  three  years. 

Y   2  Alfo, 


[     3-^    ] 
Alfo, 

1.  Fallow 

2.  Barley 

3.  Turneps 

4.  Barley. 

From  Rudgcley  Bridge  to  Lichjield  land 
lets  from  20  j,  to  3  /.  an  acre;  average  about 
25  J".     Farms  from  20  /.  to  200  /.  a  year. 

About  Shenjione  the  foil  is  light,  fandy, 
and  gravelly  ;  lets  at  15  j-.  an  acre  upon  a 
medium.    Farms  from  20/.  to  400/. 

The  courfe, 

1.  Turneps 

2.  Barley 

3.  Barley 

4.  Clover,  two  or  three  years : 
Some  farmers    continue   this   courfe  as 

follows  ; 

5.  Wheat 

6.  Oats. 

They  plough  thrice  for  wheat,  fow  two 
bufhels,  and  reap  on  an  average  twenty- 
five.  For  barley  they  ftir  twice,  fow  three 
and  an  half  or  four  bufliels,  and  gain  upon 
a  medium  forty.  Oats  they  generally  fow 
on  turf,  plough  it  once,  fow  four  bulliels, 
and  reckon   the  mean   crop   at  forty-five. 

Thev 


[     325     ] 
They  fow  a  few  peafc ;    and  upon   turncp 
land  fow  four  hufliels  pc?'  acre,   and   gain 
about  thirty  in  return. 

For  rye  they  fiir  twice  ;  fometimcs  fow  it 
on  turf  on  one  earth  :  two  bulliels  of  feed  : 
the  crop  thirty.  For  turneps  they  plough 
thrice :  hoeing  is  coming  into  fafhion 
pretty  fifl  -,  about  half  the  crops  in  the 
country  being  now  hoed  :  but  they  do  it 
only  once  :  the  value  of  the  hoed  crop 
3  5  J.  ^^r  acre,  but  the  unhoed  ones  only 
2.0  s.  which  one  would  apprehend  a  fuffi- 
cient  argument  even  to  convince  farmers 
themfelves.  They  ufe  them  chiclly  for 
fliecD. 

Clover  they  fow  with  fpring  corn,  mow 
it  but  once,  and  <?ain  about  two  ton  of  hav 
■per  acre.  Their  culture  of  potatoes  confifls 
in  dunging  grafs  land,  and  digging  it  in  ; 
they  then  dibble  in  the  potatoe  fiiccs  ten 
inches  from  each ;  and  while  growing 
hand  hoe  them  well.  The  average  produce 
per  acre  is  about  four  hundred  hufliels  :  — 
They  fow  wheat  after  them,  and  get  fine 


croDS. 


They  have  fomc  marlc,  but  not  in  large 
quantities ;  being  uncertain  v/hcrc  to  find 
it :    it  is  an  excellent  manure  :   the   colour 


Y  3  is 


[    3-6    ] 

is  red  :  they  lay  fixty  three-horfe  cart  loads 
on  an  acre.  Lime  is  the  principal  manure ; 
they  lay  eight  quarters  per  aci^e ;  it  lafts 
good  two  years,  and  cods  as.  6d.  a  quar- 
ter, with  carriage.  They  neither  fold  their 
iheep,  nor  chop  their  itubbles.  They  find 
the  beft  method  of  ufing  theit  dung  is  to 
make  compofls  of  it  with  ditch- fluff  and 
earth. 

They  drain  many  of  their  wet  lands, 
dig  them  from  two  to  three  feet  and  a  half 
deep,  four  in  width  at  bottom,  and  four- 
teen at  top,  fill  up  with  flones  a  foot  deep, 
then  lay  in  the  fods  and  earth. 

Good  grafs  land  lets  from  20  s.  to  2^s. 
per  acre.  It  is  moflly  ufed  for  dairying : 
an  acre  they  reckon  fufiicient  to  fummer 
feed  a  cow :  the  befl  farmers  manure  it 
with  compofts  of  dung  and  earth. 

The  breed  of  cattle  is  the  Ion?-  horns; 
oxen  fat  from  fixty  to  eighty  flone  :  they 
reckon  the  annual  product  at  5/.  loj-.  or 
6  /.  The  average  quantity  of  milk  per  day 
fix  gallons.  To  twenty  cows  they  keep- 
about  fix  hogs.  The  winter  food  is  flraw; 
and  at,  and  after  calving,  hay.  The  calves 
for  killing,  fuck  three  or  four  weeks;  but 
for  rearing,  not  at  all.     Ten   cows   is  the 

number 


[  3^7  ] 
number  a  dairy  maid  generally  takes  care 
of.  The  lummer  joill:  is  30  j.  and  in  win- 
ter they  reckon  a  cow  to  eat  i  5  c'lvt.  of  hay 
on  an  average;  they  then  keep  them  in  the 
fcirmyard 

Upon  fitting  a  beaft  of  forty  fcore  they 
reckon  40  j.  profit. 

Their  hogs  fat  up  to  twenty  fcore. 

Their  flocks  of  flieep  rife  from  ten  to 
two  hundred,  the  profit  varies  from  8/.  to 
2.0  s.  The  winter  and  fpring  food  is 
turnepsj  the  joiil  upon  which  4^/.  per 
week.     The  average  fleece  8  lb. 

In  their  tillage  they  reckon  fix  horfcs 
necefiary  for  the  management  of  an  hun- 
dred acres  of  arable  land,  ufe  three  or  four 
in  a  plough,   and  do  an  acre  a  day. 

The  annual  expence  of  a  horfe  they  rec- 
kon at  io/.  The  fummer  joill:  is  50/. 
There  are  a  few  ox  teams,  but  horfes  are 
fuppofed  to  be  much  the  bed,  fo  that  the 
number  decreafes.  They  do  not  break  up 
their  flubbles  for  a  fallow  till  the  fpring. 
The  price  of  ploughing  5 j. /"^r  acre;  the 
depth  from  two  to  four  inches.  Many 
farmers  cut  ftraw  into  chaff;  which  is  the 
\   4  firll 


[    328   ] 

firft  time  I  have  met  with  the  pradicc  this 
age. 

The  hire  of  a  cart,  three  horfes  and  a 
driver  a  day,   is  7J. 

In  {locking  farms  they  reckon  250/.  fuf- 
ficient  for  one  of  100/.  a  year. 

Lands  fell  at  fiom  thirty  to  thirty-five 
years  purchafe.  There  are  many  fmall 
eftatesofioo,   200,  and  300/.  a  year. 

Tythes  are  both  gathered  and  compoun- 
ded, if  the  latter 

Wheat   4  J. 
Barley   3  s. 
Oats   2  J.  6  J. 
Peafe  2s.  6d. 
Poor  rates  bd.  in  the  pound;  the  women 
and    children    are  in    idlenefsj     but   tea- 
drinkers. 

The  farmers  carry  their  corn  ten  miles. 
Leafes  are  generally  for  terms  of  feven  or 
■  fourteen  years;  but  fome  for  two  and  three 
lives. 

The  following  particulars  of  farms 
will  fhew  the  general  economy  of  the 
country. 


'oo  acres 


[     329     ] 

yoo  acres  in  nil 
300  arable 
400  grafs 
jf.4.00  rent 
10  horfcs 
12  draft  oxen 
26  cows 
30  fatting  beafts 
200  (heep  (and  more  in  winder) 
4  men 
2  boys 
4  maids 
10  labourers. 
Another, 

250  acres  in  all 
130  arable 
120  grafs 
jr.2io  rent 
8  horfes 
8  oxen 
1 5  cows 
40  fheep 

2  men 
I  boy 

3  labourers. 
Another, 

100  acres  in  all 

60  arable 

40  grafs 


[    330    ] 

40  grafs 
j(;.  70  rent 

6  horfes 
10  cows 

2  fatting  hearts 
20  flieep 

2  men 

1  boy 

2  maids 

2  labourers. 
Another, 

85  acres  in  all 
50  arable 
35  g''^^s 
£.  70  rent 

4  horfes 
6  cows 

5  fatting  beads 
I  man 

I  boy 

]  maid 

I  labourer. 
Another, 

60  acres  in  all 
40  arable 
20  grafs 

I'  40  rent 
4  horfes 


cows 


[     331     ] 
5  jcows 
10  fheep 
I  boy 
I  maid. 
Another, 

30  acres  in  all 
1 o  arable 
20  grals 
X;.2  5  rent 

3  horfes 

4  cows. 

LABOUR, 

In  harveft,  is.  and  beer. 

In  hay-time,  ditto. 

In  winter,  I0(^.  and  ditto. 

Reaping  wheat,  y  s.  to  i  o  j-.  per  acre. 

Mowing  corn,  2  s.  to  2  s.  6  d. 

gi'^ii's,   2  J-.  to  3  J-. 

Hoeing  turneps,  5  s. 
Ditching,  6d,  per  eight  yards. 
Threihi ng  wheat,   4^.  per  bulliel. 

barley,  2  d. 

' oats,  I  f  d.  to  2  d. 

beans,  id  to  2d. 

Digging,  6d.  per  eight  yards  fquare. 
Amount    of   a    year's    earnings   of  a  la- 
bourer, I  5  /. 

Firft 


[     33^     ] 

Firft  man's  wages,  i  o  /.  to  12/. 
Next  ditto,  6  /.  to  7  /. 
Boy  of  ten  or  twelve  years,  50/. 
Dairy  maids,  3  /.  to  5  /. 
Other  ditto,  ^os. 

Women  per  day  in  harveft,  6  d.  and  board. 
In  hay  time,  ditto. 
In  winter,   ^J.  and  beer. 
Value   of   a   man's   board,   wafhing,  and 
lodging,  9/. 

IMPLEMENTS. 

A  waggon,  20/.  . 

A  cart,  7  /.  to  9  /. 
A  plough,  2 1  J. 
A  harrow,   21s. 
A  fey  the,  4J-.  6  d. 
A  fpade,  3  j-.  6  d. 

Laying  a  fliare  and  coulter,  S  d.  to  is.  4^. 
Shoeing,  is.  4  d. 

Harnefs,  25^.  ^^rhorfe  j  ufe  the  fame  both 
for  carting  and  ploughing. 

PROVISIONS,   &c. 

Maiiin  bread,  id. 
Cheefe,  2I  d. 
Butter,  8  ^.  1 6  to  ig  cz. 
Beef,   2 '  d. 

Mutton, 


[    333    ] 

Mutton,    2\d, 

Pork,    3  d. 

Milk,  i  d.  per  pint. 

Potatoes,  ^d.  /»^r  peck. 

Candles,  7  d. 

Soap,  6  ^. 

Labourer's  houfe  rent,  20  j*.  to  50  j-. 

firing,  30J-.   Much  hedge  breaking. 

Coals,  4^.  per  hundred  weight. 
Faggots,  6  s.  to  9  J.  /^r  120. 

BUILDING. 

Bricks,  iis.  6d.  />^r  thoufand. 
Oak  timber,  is.  ^d.  to  2s, 
Elm,  20^. 

Carpenter,  is.  6d.  a  day. 
Farm  houfes  of  brick  and  tile. 

The  preceding  huibandry  continued  for 
fome  diftance  towards  Birmingham.  At 
u^Jion  I  made  particular  enquiries,  and 
found  feveral  variations. 

The  foil  is  all  fandy ;  lets  from  i  5  j-.  to 
20  J",  an  acre.  Farms  moflly  fmall,  but 
from  twenty  to  two  hundred. 

The  courfes, 

1 .  Turneps 

2.  Barley 

3.  Oats 


[     334    ] 

3-  Oats 

4.  Clover  two  years,  Ibme  few  add 

5,  Wheat; 
And, 

1 .  Turneps 

2.  Barley 

3.  Oats 

4.  Clover 

5.  Oats. 

For  wheat  they  plough  four  times,  fow 
two  builiels  and  a  half,  and  reap  from 
twenty-three  to  twenty-five.  They  give 
three  flirrings  for  barley,  fow  from  three  to 
four  bufhels,  and  reckoa  twenty-five  the 
average  produce.  For  oats  they  give  but 
one  earth,  fow  five  bufliels,  and  gain  upon 
a  medium  four  quarters.  They  plough 
but  once  for  peafe,  fow  three  buil:iels,  and 
fometimes  hand-hoe  them;  the  crop  twenty 
bufliels.  Turneps  they  prepare  for  by  three 
ftirrings  ;  hoeing  is  now  common  ;  gene- 
rally once,  and  fometimes  twice  :  The 
average  value  401.  per  acre.  They  reckon 
the  hoed  crops  better  than  the  unhoed 
by  20  s.  an  acre  ;  they  are  ufed  for  fbeep 
and  beafcs.  Clover  they  fow  with  fpring 
corn,   mow  it  once,  and  gain  about  a  ton 

and 


[     335     ] 
and  a  half  of  hay  per  acre.     A  little  buck, 
wheat  is  cultivated  for  fwine. 

For  potatoes  they  dig  up  grafs  land,  and 
dibble  in  the  fetts  ,  get  fine  crops  oF  five 
or  fix  hundred  bufliels  per  acre  ;  and  very 
good  wheat  after  them. 

Lime  is  their  principal  manure ;  they 
lay  nine  quarters  per  acre,  at  z  s.  a  quar- 
ter, befides  leading ;  they  mix  it  with 
dung,  earth,  cifr. 

Hollow  draining  is  not  uncommon  in 
this  country  ;  they  dig  them  from  two  to 
four  feet  deep,  generally  until  they  come 
to  a  bed  of  gravel  :  They  fill  them  up 
a  foot  deep  with  furnace,  cinders,  heath, 
ling,  &c.  ^c.  They  are  from  four  to 
eight  inches  wide  at  bottom,  and  twenty 
inches,  or  two  feet,  at  top. 

Good  grafs  land  letts  from  20  s.  to  40  s. 
an  acre.  Moft  of  it  is  applied  to  feeding 
covv^s,  for  fupplying  Birmmgham  with  milk. 
Many  farmers  manure  it.  The  prodivift  of 
cows  in  that  way  amounts  from  6  /.  to  10/. 
a  cow  J  a  middling  one  will  give  fix  or 
{^v^w  gallons  a  day.  The  winter  food  is 
hay  alone,  of  which  they  cat  in  general 
three  hundred  weight  a  week.  The  calves 
do  not  fuck  above  two  weeks :  The  fum- 

mer 


[    336     ] 
mer  joifl  per  cow  is  is.  6d.  ■sl  week  :  In 
the  winter,  after  calving,   they  are  kept  in 
the  houfc. 

Sheep  are  kept  only  by  farmers  that 
have  a  right  of  commonage  j  the  profit 
they  calculate  at  8  j.  a  head.  The  average 
fleece,  two  pounds  and  a  half  to  three 
pounds. 

In  their  tillage  they  reckon  fix  horfes 
necefiary  for  the  management  of  an  hun- 
dred acres  of  arable  land  :  They  ufe  two 
or  three  in  a  plough,  and  do  an  acre  a  day. 
The  annual  expence  per  horfe  they  cal- 
culate at  5  /.  The  fummer  joift  2  x.  a 
week. 

They  break  up  their  fallows  for  turneps 
at  Chrijimas  ;  the  depth  of  ftirring  in  ge- 
neral from  three  to  fix  inches  :  Much  ftraw 
is  here  cut  into  chaff. 

The  hire  of  a  cart,  three  horfes,  and 
driver,  5  j-.  to  5  s.  6  d. 

Many  farmers  hire  farms  of  100/.  a 
year,  with  350/.  but  it  was  the  opinion  of 
feveral  fenfible  hufbandmen  I  converfed 
Vv^ith,  that  upv/ards  of  500/.  is  neceffary  to 
do  it  completely.  That  fum  they  divided 
as  follows  : 

30  cows. 


[     ^Z7    ] 

30  cows. 

£■■ 

210 

6  horfes, 

60 

2  waggons. 

- 

35 

2  carts. 

- 

10 

Harnefs, 

- 

6 

Sundry  fmall  articles. 

- 

6 

Rent, 

- 

50 

Rates, 

- 

10 

Houfekeeping,    two   m< 

:n,    two 

maids,   two    boys. 

and  the 

farmer  and  wife, 

- 

60 

Seed, 

- 

^5 

Hogs,      -          -          - 

- 

4 

Wages, 

- 

28 

Labourers, 

» 

25 

519 

Land  fells  at  thirty  years  purchafe. 
Tythcs  are  in  general  compounded,  per 

acre,  vo 

Wheat,  5  s. 
Barley,    2.s.   6d. 
Oats,    2  s.    6  d, 
Peafe,  2  s.    6  d. 
Poor  rates,  i/.  to  u.  6^. 
The   employment  of  the   women   and 
children  fpinning  :    All  drink  tea. 

Leafes  are  various,  both  lives  and  terms. 
Vol.  IIL  Z  The 


[    338    ] 

The  following  fketches  of  farms  will 
(hew  the  general  oeconomy  : 
86  acres  in  all 
26  arable 
60  grafs 
jC- 75  rent 
3  horfes 
15  cows 

1  man 

2  maids  ir. 

2  carts 

I  plough. 
Another, 

70  acres  in  all 
20  arable 
50  grafs 
£.55  rent 

3  horfes 
^-  12  cows 

I  boy 

1  maid 

2  carts 

I  plough. 
Another, 

40  acres  all  grafs 
^.40  rent 
12  cows 
I  hor^ 

t  bov. 


[    339     ] 
I  boy. 
Another, 

35  acres  all  grafs 
£.^o  rent 
1 1  cows 
I  horfe 
I  boy. 
I  maid. 

LABOUR. 

Inbarvefl,  is.  and  board. 

In  hay  time,   ditto. 

In  winter,  8  d.  and  ditto. 

Reaping,  4^.  6d.  to  ^s,  per  acre. 

Mowing  corn,  is.  6^. 

grafs,  2  J.  , 

Hoeing  turneps,  5/. 
Ditching,  4  ^.  to  8  d. 
Threfhing  wheat,  4  d.  per  buihel. 

^— barley,  3^. 

■ oats,  zd. 

Digging,  6^/.  a  rood. 
Firft  man's  wages,  7  /.  -to  8  /. 
Next  ditto,  4  /.  I  o  J-.  to  5  /.  10  j". 
Boy  of  ten  or  twelve  years,  40  j". 
Dairy  maids,  3/.  to  3  /.  loj-. 
Other  ditto,  ditto. 

Z  2  Women 


r  340  3 

Women  per  day  In  harvell,  6d.  and  beer. 
In  hay  time,  tiiLtO. 

IMPLEMENTS. 

A  waggon,  20/. 

A^cart,  6/. 

A  plough,   2 1  s. 

A  harrow,    15  j. 

A  barley  roller,  15/. 

A  fey  the,  2  J.  6  ^.  to  3  j.  6  d. 

A  fpade,   3  j.  6  ^.      , 

Shoeing,  u".  6d, 

PROVISIONS,    ^c. 

Wheat  bread,  iilb,  for  is. 

Cheefe,   2\  d. 

Butter,   8  d. 

Beef,  2.1  d. 

Mutton,  id. 

Pork,  3^^.  to  4^. 

Milk,   f  d.  per  pint 

Potatoes,   4  ^.  /J^T  peck. 

Candles,  j  d. 

Soan,  t\  d. 

Labourer's  houfe  rent,  30^.  to  ^os, 

firing,  20  J-.  to  30/. 

— tools,  7  J.  6^/. 

Coals, 


r  341  ] 

Coals,  1 2  J",  a  ton. 
Faggots,  16  J.  120. 

BUILDING. 

Bricks,  I IX.  per  thoufand. 
Tiles,    12  J. 

Oak  timber,   u.  to  2  j.  6  d, 
Afh  ditto,  IJ-.  to  2J-. 
Elm,  I  J.  to  I J-.  6  d. 
Carpenter  a  day,  \s,  S  d. 
Mafon  ditto,  is.  S  d. 
Their  labourers,  is.  .\.d. 

Having  finiflied  fo  long  an  epifde,  you 
mufl  allow  me  to  conclude,  tiiat  I  am,  (^c. 


T- 


[     342     ) 


LETTER      XXI. 

I  Was  no  where  more  dirappointed  than 
at  Birmingham 'y  where  I  could  not 
gain  any  intelligence  even  of  the  mod 
common  nature,  through  the  exceffivejea- 
loufy  of  the  manufadturers.  It  feems  the 
French  have  carried  oif  feveral  of  their 
fabricks,  and  thereby  injured  the  town 
not  a  little :  this  makes  them  fo  cautious, 
that  they  will  fhew  Grangers  fcarce  any 
thing;  it  was  even  v/ith  fome  difficulty  that 
I  gained  the  following  flight  intelligence. 
Manufatfturers  of  all  forts. 

Men  earn  'js.  to  3/.    per  week. 
Women,   zs.  6d.   to  js. 
Children,    i  s  6d,    to  4 j.  6 ^. 
About  28,000  fouls  calculated  in  the 
town. 

The  manufacfture  more  flourifhing  thani 
ever  in  the  war  ;  fell  upon  the  peace,  and 
has  of  late  arofe  again,  but  not  near  equal 
to  its  former  height. 

From  ihis  tr  vvn  I  pointed  my  way  to  the!' 
Lca/swes,  the  iccd  of  the  late  Mr.  Shenftone, 

now 

J 


[     343    ] 
now  of  Capt.  'Turnpenny.     \\\  that  line  of 
country  land  lets  at  an  average  at  iis.  j^r 
acre.     Farms  from  20/.  to  200/.  a  year. 

In  this  country  is  dug  the  famous  blazing 
cannel  coal. 

Arriving  at  Hales  OwenyWc  walked  up  to 
the  Leajhwes ;  but  here  I  llirald  intimate, 
that  as  the  late  Mr.  Dodjley  gave  a  parti- 
cular account  of  thefe  grounds  in  fo  popular 
a  book  as  Sbenjiones  Works,  I  fliall  only 
minute  a  few  circumftances,  either  omitted 
in  that  account,  or  finiOied  fince  it  was 
wrote :  And  take  the  liberty  of  remarking 
wherein  Mr.  Dodjley  fell  (hort  of,  or  exag- 
gerated, the  beauty  of  his  original. 

The  cafcade,  viewed  from  the  root  houfe 
infcribed  to  the  Earl  of  Stamford,  is  afto- 
nifliingly  romantic;  a  large  fpace  of  ground 
at  your  feet,  for  above  an  hundred  and  ^iiy 
yards,  is  thickly  covered  with  the  ftems  of 
fine  oaks  Gfc.  a  fall  of  water  at  the  farther 
end  of  this  ground  firfl:  breaks  to  your  view, 
and  then  forms  twenty  more  before  it  reach- 
es you,  all  broke  into  difl:in(5t  flieets,  wild- 
ly irregular,  by  the  intervening  and  crofling 
flems  of  the  trees  above;  their  branches 
and  leaves  form  a  fine  thick  canopy  of  (liade, 
which  fetts  off  moH:  glorioufly  the  ilieets 
Z  4  of 


[     344     ] 
of  water,  which  here  and  there  meet  the 
fun  beams  and  fparkle  in  the  eve.     This 
intermixture  of  v/ood  and  water  is  amazing- 
ly fine. 

From  the  bench  infcrihed 

To  ail  friends  round  tJo3  Wrckiuy 
You  look  down  upon  a  very  beautiful  va- 
riety of  unequal  ground i  all  waving  cul- 
tivated inclofures,  finely  fcattered  with 
houf^s,  villages,  ^c.  the  pools  appear- 
ing in  broken  flieets  among  the  wood  in 
the  vallev:  At  the  bottom  of  the  flooe 
is  a  kind  of  river,  but  the  end  is  badly 
hid  wich  a  little  trifling;  CJji'/icle  brid7e  : 
hovv'ever,  from  the  Ipot,  which  Mr.  Dodf- 
It'y  calls  a  cavity  in  a  fmall  thicket  filled 
with  trees,  the  ferpentine  fiiream  has  a 
better  effect. 

After  this,  we  next  meet  with  a  green 
bench  with  this  infcription  : 

"  While  Nati:re  here 

''•  Wantons  as  in  her  prinie,  and  pl.ivs  at  will 
"  Mcr  virgin  fancies." 

It  Is  well  pkiced,  commanding  a  fvveet  va- 
riety of  wood,  water,  and  v/avcs  of  culti- 
vated inclofures. 

The 


r     345     ] 

The  walk  and  feat  marked 

Div!?ii  Gloria  Run's  ! 
in  Mr.  Dodjly,  is  no  where  to  be  found. 

The  view  {vQm.Tl^o?nfons  feat  is  exquifite 
and  inimitable  ;  fweetly  varied;  the  water 
admirably  managed :  Jn  a  word,  it  is  a 
little  fccne  of  enchantment.  I  took  a 
llcetch  of  the  cafcade  upon  the  left, 
which  will  give  a  faint  idea  of  one  beauty 
oat  of  many. 

From  Hales  Owen  we  took  the  road  to 
Hagley-,  the  feat  of  Lord  Littleton.  The 
houfe  is  an  excellent  living  one  ;  a  v/ell- 
defigned  mean  between  the  vafc  piles 
raifed  for  magnificence,  and  thofe  fmaller 
ones,  in  which  convenience  is  alone  con- 
fidered. 

The  Hail  is  thirty  iz<tl  fquare  :  \i  is  orna- 
mented with  Statues  of  Veirus  de  Medicls, 
Bacchus,  &c.  &c.  and  various  buds:  The 
Jlercukss  which  fupport  the  cornice  of  the 
chimney  piece  are  heavy :  Here  are  likewife 
bafs  relieves,  (^c. 

The  Library,  thirty  three  by  twenty 
five,  is  a  good  room;  the  ceiling  orna- 
mented with  fjroUs  of  flucco  v/ork.     Here 

are  pictures : 

Ricbardfon. 


[    346    ] 

Rkhardfon.     Tope,  and  his  dog  Bounce* 
Aickman.         Thompfon. 

Gilbert  Weft. 

The  Dreiiing-room  is  twenty-one  feet 
fquare. 

Van  Capen.     Poultry. 
Wotton.  "Landfcape.  Fine  ;  but  there 

is  a  light  on    the  goats   in   the 

corner,   which  does  not  feem  in 

uniibn  with  the  ref^. 
yonfon.  Lady  hittletoriy    wife  of  Sir 

Thomas. 
Zuccharo,      Sir  John  Littleton, 
Van  Somer.    Sir  Thomas  Littleton, 
jonfon.  Sir  Alexaiider  Temple, 

Mirevelt.       Prince  oi  Orange. 
Greenhill.       Mr.  Henry  Littleton. 
Corn.yon/Gn.lj^idLy  Crompton.  Very  fine. 
Ditto.  Queen  oi  Booemia. 

Ditto.  A  Lady  unknown. 

Dohfon.  Prince  Maurice. 

Honthrujl.      Sir  K.  Stainmore. 

In  the  Crimfon  Bed-chamber, 

Le  Fevre.     Dutcheis  of  Port/mouth. 
Reynolds.        Lord  Littleton. 
Williams.       Mifs  Fortefcue,  his  firft  Lady. 

In 


[     347     J 
In  the  Beft  Dreffing  room,  twenty  fquarc, 

an  elegant  chimney  piece  of  white  marble, 

the  cornice  fupported  by  ionic  pillars.   The 

ceiling  white  ornaments  in  ftacco  on  a  lead 

coloured  ground.     Here  are 

Vandyke.  The  three  Maries  and  a  dead 
Chriji.  Exceedingly  fine;  ad- 
mirably grouped  \  the  colours 
mod  expreflive. 

Storck,         A  fea  piece. 

Lely.  A  lady  unknown. 

BrugheL  A  landfcapej  moft  minutely 
expreffive. 

"Unknown.  A  fea  piece.  Alfo  Views  of 
Persfield. 

Houfeman.    Charles  II,  and  Queen. 

Wotton.        A  Landfcape.    Very  fine. 

Glow.  Horfes. 

Cypriani.  Arcadian  {hepherds.  The  at- 
titudes and  groupes  exceedingly 
pleafing.     Colours  brilliant. 

Viviano.  An  Alto  relievo.  Fine  and 
fpirlted. 

Lely.  L.  Gary. 

Wyck,  A  battle  piece:  In  the  fllle  of 

Borgognone. 

Cypriani.      The   triumph    of  Bacchus;    a 

drawinG;.    Fine. 

The 


[  348  1 
The  Saloon,  thirty-fix  by  thirty.  The 
chimney-piece  very  beautiful,  oi  Siena  and 
white  marble;  the  cornice  fupported  by 
ionic  pillars.  In  the  centre  of  the  frieze 
three  boys  in  white  marble  poliflied,  and 
on  each  fide  a  fcroU  of  w^hite  on  a  Siena 
ground.  Here  are 
Rubens,      The  marriage  of  Neptune  and 

Cybele.     The  lady  is    a  Rubens 

figure  with  a  vengeance,  and  her 

attitude  difgufting. 
Vandyke.      Earl  and  Countefs  of  Carlijle^ 

Very  fine. 
Titian.  Venus    reconciling  herfelf    to 

o 

PJycbe.  Her  figure  clumfy  but 
fomewhat  more  delicate  thani^z^- 
hens\\  His  attitude  very  expref- 
five,  but  not  of  the  fubjedl.  Co- 
lours   fine,    but    their  brilliancy 


Baffan. 


Vandyke 
'Jervois. 


gone  off. 


yacob  and  his  family.  Prodi- 
gious fine.  The  minute  ftrength 
of  exprefiion  in  the  figures  to  the 
left  f^rcat. 

The  royal  family. 

Charles  I.  and  his  Queen. 


The 


[  349  ] 
The  Drawing-room,  thirty-four  by  twen- 
ty-two. The  chiiiincy- piece  IcroUs  cC 
white  marble  trailed  on  SieruT,  elc^-ant. 
Lord  Bathy  by  Ramfay,  over  it,  inclofed 
in  ornaments,  elegantly  carved  and  ^^ilt. 
The  cieling  an  oval,  in  the  centre,  Fijnu 
by  Cypriani;  and  in  the  corners  the  Sci- 
fons :  Her  attitude  elegant,  and  the  co- 
lours pleafing.  The  glafs  frames  in  this 
room  are  elegantly  carved  and  gilt.  Slabs 
of  Siciza  marble. 

Ram/ay.       Earl  of  Hardwicke. 

Van  ho.         Earl  of  Chejierjitid. 

Ditto.  Lord  Cobham. 

Unknown.     Mr.  Pelhanz. 

The  Gallery,  eighty-five  by  twenty-two, 
in  three  divilions,  formed  by  double  Corin- 
thian pillars.     The   chimney-piecc,  glaft, 
table  frames,   and  the  girandoles  carved  in 
black  and  Vvdiite. 
Vandyke.      Virgin  and  child.   Very  noble  : 
Her  attitude  incomparably  fine  : 
The  air  of  her  head  i^reat :   The 
child  noble. 
Ditto.  Countefs  of  Bedford. 

Lcly.  Mifs  Broivii. 

Ditto.  Lord  BrcKr.c ::.:?•. 

The 


[    35^    ] 

The  Dining-room,  thirty-three  by  twen- 
ty-fix.    Here  are, 
ZiicchareUi.  Landfcape;   a  waterfall,   and 

bridge  3  pleaiing. 
Ditto,  Another  3   water,  and  a  boat. 

Ditto. 
Wilfon.  Landfcape;  ditto. 

But  what  at  Hagley  is  moft  worthy 
of  notice,  is  the  grounds,  which  Lord 
Littleton  has  difpofed  with  the  utmoft 
tafte. 

The  walk  from  the  houfe  leads  through 
a  wood,  by  the  fide  of  a  purling  ftream, 
which  meanders  over  grafs  from  out  a  dark 
hollow  'y  you  pafs  a  gufh  of  water,  which 
falls  into  it,  and  winding  higher  up  the 
hill,  turn  by  the  fide  of  another  brook, 
which  gurgles  through  a  rocky  hollow; 
another  gufliing  fall,  over  bits  of  rock,  at- 
tracts your  notice;  which  paffing,  you 
come  to  the  Prince  of  Walesa  ftatue.  This 
Ipot  commands  a  fine  view  of  the  diftant 
country  over  the  houfe. 

Winding  from  hence  through  the  wood, 
you  look  to  the  left  upon  diftant  grounds, 
until  you  come  to  a  feat,  infcribed  to  Thom^ 
foriy  in  thefc  lines  : 

Ingenia 


[    35«    1 

Inq;enio  immortali 

J  A  c  o  B  I    Thomson-, 

Poetns    Sublimis. 

Viri  boni 

^diculam  hanc  in  fecefiu  quem  viviis  dllexir, 

Poft  mortem  ejus  conftrudam, 

Dicat  dedicatqiie, 

GeORGIUS     LfTTLETO^r. 

From  hence  you  look  down  on  a  fine 
lawn,  and,  in  front,  upon  a  noble  bank  of 
hanging  wood,  in  which  appears  a  temple. 
To  the  left  a  dillant  view  of  Malvern 
hills. 

From  hence  pafling  a  well,  called  after 
the  patriarch,  from  which  you  have  a  dl- 
ftant  view  of  a  hill  over  tlie  wood,  you 
enter  a  grove  of  oaks,  in  which  you  catch 
a  glance  at  the  caftle,  through  the  trees, 
on  the  top  of  the  hill,  beautifully  rifing 
out  of  a  bank  of  wood. 

Next  we  came  to  an  ionic  rotunda,  in- 
clofed  in  a  beautiful  amphitheatre  of  wood ; 
it  looks  down  upon  a  piece  of  water  in 
the  hollow  of  a  grove,  at  the  end  of  which 
is  a  palladian  bridge.  The  fcene  is  pleaf- 
ing.  From  hence  the  path  winds  through 
a  fine  wood  of  oaks,   in  which  is  a  bench, 

l.y 


t   ?>s^  ] 

hy  the  Tide  of  a  trickling  rill,  Vv'ith  this 
infcription  : 

Inter  cuncla  leges,  et  per  cunftabere  do6los. 
Qua  ratione  queas  traducere  leniter  cevum, 
Qiiid  minuat  curas,  quid  te  tibi  redJat  amlcum, 
Qiiid  pure  tranquillet,  honos  an  dulce  lucellum, 
An  fccretum  iter,  et  fallentls  femita  vita?. 

Which  lines  are  well  fuited  to  the  fe^ 
queftred  retired  fpot  in  which  they  are 
placed.  The  path  then  leads,  by  the 
ftrcara,  r^nd  under  the  trees,  to  a  fine  open 
lawn  inclofed  by  -wood ;  at  cne  end  an 
urn  infcribed  to  Pope  : 

Alexandp.o  Pope, 

Postarum  Anglicanornm  elegantiflimo,   dulcif- 

fimaque. 

Vitiorum  Caftigatori  acerrlmo, 

Sapientife  dodtori  fuaviffimo. 

Sacra  efto. 

1744. 

Faffing  two  benches,  and  a  flight  gufh 
©f  water,  you  rife  to  the  ruined  caftle ; 
from  the  top  of  which  is  a  \try  beautiful 
viev/,  down  upon  the  woods,  lawns,  Hopes, 
&c.  and  prodigiouily  extenlive  profpecfl 
over  the  country.     JVorceJier,  Diidicy,  the 


[     353     ] 

Clee  Hillsy  are  a  part  of  the  fccnc;  tlie 
JVrekin,  at  forty  miles,  and,  it  is  faid, 
Radnor-tumpy   at  eighty  miles  diftance. 

Following  the  path,  you  pafs  a  triangu- 
lar water,  the  meaning  of  which  I  do  not 
underftand,  and  walk  down  under  the 
fliade  of  oaks,  by  the  fide  of  a  winding 
woody  hollow,  to  the  feat  of  contem- 
plation, 

Sedes  Contemplationis, 
Omnia  Vanitas. 

The  view  is  only  down  into  the  hollow 
among  the  trees.  Next  we  came  to  the 
hermitage,  which  looks  down  on  a  piece 
of  water,  in  the  hollow,  thickly  fl^aded 
with  tall  trees,  over  which  is  a  fine  view 
of  diftant  country.  This  water  is  fome- 
w^hat  too  regular.  In  the  hermitage  this 
infcription : 

"  And  may,  at  laft,  my  weary  age 
*'  Find  out  the  peaceful  hermitage, 
"  The  hairy  gown,  and  mofly  ccli, 
"  Where  I  may  fit,  and  rightly  fpell 
"  Of  every  ftar  that  heaven  doth  fliew, 
*'  And  every  herb  that  fips  the  dew, 
**  Till  old  experience  do  attain, 
"  To  fomething  like  prophetic  drain. 
Vol.  IH.  A  ^  "  Thefe 


[     354    ] 

"  Thefe  pleafures,  Melancholy,  give, 
"  And  I  with  thee  will  chufe  to  live." 

//  Penferofo. 

Winding  down,  you  come  to  a  root 
cave  by  the  water's  edge  ;  a  retired  fpot ; 
and  at  the  other  end  of  the  pond  a  cave  of 
Sjrotto  work. 

Coming  out  of  the  grove,  and  ridng  the 
hill,  you  command  to  the  left,  as  you 
move,  a  mofc  beautiful  view  of  the  coun- 
try ,  a  noble  fweep  of  inclofures  of  a 
charming  verdure,  to  a  bench,  from  which 
you  look  into  the  vale  on  the  houfe  at  your 
feet,  with  a  fweet  little  flream  ferpen- 
tining  by  it.  Next  you  come  to  another 
bench  infcribed  from  Milton  : 

"  Thefe  are  thy  glorious  works,  Parent  of 
Good  ! 

"  Almighty  !  thine  this  everlafting  frame, 

"  Thus  wondrous  fair !  Thyfelf  how  won- 
drous then, 

*'  Unfpeakable  !  who  fits  above  thefe  hea- 
vens 

"  To  us  invlfible,  or  dimly  feen 

"  In  thefe  thy  lowcft  works ;  yet  thefe  de- 
clare 

*'  Thy  goodnefs  beyond  thought,  and  power 

divine.'* 

You 


[     355  ] 

You  look  down  on  an  exquifite  lawn 
thinly  fcattered  with  trees,  on  one  fide  of 
which  is  the  houfe ;  around  the  whole  a 
vafl  range  of  inclofures  :  to  the  right  you 
catch  a  moft  beautiful  fmall  green  hill* 
with  a  clump  of  trees  upon  it.  This  view 
is  noble  indeed ! 

From  hence  you  turn  to  the  right  into 
a  grove,  and  prefently  come  to  a  view 
moll  delicious  !  At  your  feet  is  fpread 
forth  a  lawn  of  the  fineft  verdure  ;  a  cool 
fequeftred  hollow,  furrounded  with  thick 
wood  ;  above  which,  in  front,  you  catch 
nomfo?i\  Seat,  in  the  very  fpot  of  ele- 
gance itfelf  J  on  a  fweet  little  green  hill, 
the  top  of  which  juft  fhews  itfelf  above 
the  trees,  and  half  difclofes  the  temple  al- 
moft  embofom'd  in  v/ood.  A  little  to  the 
left  of  it,  and  higher,  is  the  Grecian  portico* 
finely  back'd  with  a  fpreading  grove.  Over 
that,  on  a  noble  fweep  of  irregular  hill, 
rifes  the  obcliflc,  back'd  with  a  vaft  range 
of  wood,  in  the  nobleft  ftile  :  Tlie  variety 
of  ground  fine,  and  the  whole  of  it  orna- 
mented with  furprizing  tafte  as  well  as 
magnificence.  A  better  afil^mbiage  of  un- 
conneded  objeds  managed  moft  fliillfully 
A  a  2  to 


[    356    ] 

tx)  form  one  whole,  can  fcarcely  be  ima- 
gined :  Yet  have  I  read  a  defcription  of 
Hagley,  in  which  it  is  thus  mentioned  : — 
**  Tou  turn  into  a  thicket,  and  have  A 
"  LOOK  at  the  Doric  Pavilion,  Thomfon'j 
**  Seat,  and  the  Obelijk" 

Leaving  this  noble  fcene,  the  path 
brings  you  to  a  bench  under  a  very  fine 
oak,  which  looks  down,  as  before,  on  the 
hollow  lawn  j  in  front  you  view  the  green 
hill,  with  the  clump  of  trees  on  it,  which 
here  appears  mod  exquifitely  beautiful  : 
on  one  fide  of  it  diftant  water  peeps  mofl: 
pidurefquely  among  the  trees,  and  over 
all  the  Wrekin  rears  his  venerable  head. 

Perfuing  the  walk  through  the  grove, 
you  come  to  the  feat  infcribed 
^lieti  &  Miifu, 
which  commands  moll:  elegant  fcenes : 
You  look  down  on  a  green  hollow,  fur- 
rounded  by  fine  oaks ;  to  the  right  you 
fee  fome  water  through  the  trees :  rifing 
above  this  lower  fcene,  you  look  to  the 
left  upon  Thomfons  Seat,  thickly  backed 
and  furrounded  with  wood  ;  above  it  the 
obeliik  appears  nobly.  To  the  right  a 
gothic  houfe  (the  parfonage")  feen  obfcure- 


[     357     ] 
ly  among  the   trees;    likewlfe  inclofures 
broke  by  wood  rifing  moft  elegantly  one 
above  the  other. 

Next  you  come  to  a  bench  under  a  late- 
ly oak  commanding  a  lawn  ;  to  the  right 
Popes  urn,  and  a  rifing  hill  crowned  with 
a  clump  of  trees  5  and  following  the  path, 
it  brings  you  to  a  very  fine  dell  arched  with 
wood,  and  a  great  variety  of  water  in  a 
hollow  at  your  feet.  To  the  right,  clofc 
to  you,  a  fpring  guflies  out  of  the  ground 
on  rock  work,  and  falls  into  a  fi:rcam  in  the 
hollow.  Further  on  another  rill  murmurs 
over  broken  rocks,  and  uniting  with  the 
fame  ftream,  it  falls  again,  and  winds  away 
moft  beautifully  among  the  wood.  Upon 
the  feat  is  this  infcription  ;• 

"  Hie  gelidi   fontes,   hie  mollla  prata^  Ly- 

cori  J 
*'  Hie   nemus :    hie  ipfo   tecum   confumere 

asvo." 

Crofilng  the  dell,  you  rife  to  another 
feat,  the  ftream  windir>g  in  the  hollow 
beneath ;  and  the  whole  under  the  fliade 
of  large  oaks :  To  the  right  you  catch  an 
urn,  and  look  back  upon  the  ionic  rotunda, 

A  a  3  which 


[     3S8    ] 

which  is  feen  very  beautifully.  Turning 
to  the  left,  and  coming  to  the  urn,  you 
find  it  infcribed  as  follows : 

To  the  Memory  of 

William  Sh  ens  tone,    Efq; 

In  whofe  Verfes 

Were  all  the  natural  Graces, 

And  in  whofe  Manners 

Was  all  the  amiable  Simplicity 

Of  paftoral  Poetry, 

With  the  fweet  tendernefs 

Of  the  Elegiac. 

Palling  on  you  come  to  a  bench  by  the 
fide  of  the  winding  flream,  thickly  covers 
ed  with  w^ood  ;  and  entering  a  grove  al- 
moft  impervious  to  the  fun,  meet  with  a 
bench  around  a  vaft  oak,  that  commands 
a  fine  variety  of  fcenery.  To  the  right 
you  look  upon  the  river,  and  rifing  among 
the  wood  the  rotunda  ftrikes  your  eye  -, 
the  fituation  admirable;  to  the  left  you 
•command  the  Pailadian  bridge,  having  a 
frefh  view  of  the  water,  in  a  hollow  all 
overhung  with  wood  :  Behind  you,  on  a 
fine  hill,   is  the  feat  ^deti  &  Muf.s. 

Returning 


r    359     ] 
Returning  through  the  grove,  you  pals 
feverai    :snches,    and   arrive   at  one  iiir- 
rounded  by  the  mod:   bewitching  Icjiies : 
It  is  a  mois  feat,    with  this  infL-ripiion  : 

"  Ego  lauda  ruris  amccni 
"  Rivos  &  nuifco  circumlita  fiixa  nemufque." 

The  fpot  is  totally  lequeflered,  and  might 
almoft  be  called  the  paradife  for  contem- 
plation to  indulge  in:    the  whole   is  over 
arched   with  the  Ihade  of  tall   fpreading 
trees  ;  it  is  furroundcd  with  banks  of  Hirub- 
by  wood,  of  mofs,  and  ivyj  the  eye  cannot 
wander  from  the  beautiful,  in  feaich  of  the 
fublime;    nor  will  one  figh  ever  be  heard 
on  this  bench,    for  diftant  profped.     In 
front  you  look  upon  a  cafcade,    breaking 
from  out  a  perpendicular  bank  of  ivy;  and 
prefenting  to  the  eye  a  beautiful   fill  of 
tranfparent  water,  that  glitters  in  this  dark 
grove;  the  efleft  amazingly  fine.     It  takes 
a   natural    courfe,    and   breaking    over    a 
ground  of  rock  mofs  and  ivy,  lofes   itfclf 
among  the  fhrubs  at  your  feet.     To  the 
right  is  a  fweet  little  watery  cave  of  rock 
mofs,  ^c.    in  which  is  a  fmall  ftatue  of 
Venus y    the  rcH:  of  the  ktwQ  is  a  fine  dark 

ihadc:  of  wood. 

A  a  A  Winding 


[360] 

Winding  up  the  fide  of  the  hill,  you  look 
down  on  a  romantic  irriguous  woody  val- 
ley; hearing  the  noife  of  falUng  water,  but 
feeing  none.  Coming  to  a  bench,  you  juft 
look  down  to  the  right  on  a  gufhing  ftrcam 
half  covered  with  trees ;  in  front,  Ve7ius 
emboibm'd  in  a  fweet  hollow  of  wood. 

Windin2:  round  the  fides  of  the  river, 
you  come  to  the  Palladian  bridge ;  a  por- 
tico'd  temple  of  the  ionic  order ;  the  view 
admirably  fine.  You  look  full  upon  a 
beautiful  cafcade,  broke  into  two  fheets  by 
a  rock,  which  falls  into  the  water  over 
which  the  bridge  is  thrown.  A  little  above 
this  a  piece  of  wild  ground  is  half  feen, 
and  further  on  a  beautiful  lawn,  at  the 
end  of  which  a  fine  green  fwelling  hill, 
upon  which  ftands  the  rotunda  :  the  line 
of  view  to  thefe  objedis  is  through  a  thick 
tall  wood,  which  gives  a  folemn  brown- 
nefs  to  the  whole  fcene,  very  noble.  The 
infcription : 

"  Viridantia  Tempe, 
"  Tempe   quas  fylv^E  cingunt    fuper  impen- 
dentes/' 

Leaving  this  exqulfite  fpot,  you  turn 
through  a  grove  by  feveral  flight  water- 
falls, and  come  out  not  far  from  the  houfe. 

Thefe 


t  361  ] 

Thefe  grounds,  upon  the  whole,  cannot 
be  fufficiently  praifed  :  the  natural  variety 
is  great,  and  the  advantage  of  being  fo  no- 
bly cloathed  with  venerable  oaks,  peculi- 
arly fortunate  j  but  art  has  added  frefli 
luftre  to  every  feature  of  nature,  and  cre- 
ated others  which  difplay  a  pregnant  in- 
vention ,  and  a  pure  and  corre(ft  tafte. 
Waters  that  are  trifling  in  themfelves,  arc 
thrown  into  appearances  that  flrike  and 
delight  the  mind,  and  exhibited  in  fuch  an 
amazing  variety,  that  one  would  be  temp- 
ted at  firft  to  think  the  fource  vaftly 
more  confiderable  than  it  in  reality  is.  Let 
me  further  add,  that  the  buildings  have  an 
equal  variety,  are  all  in  a  moft  juft  tafte, 
and  placed  with  the  utmoft  judgment, 
both  for  commanding  the  moft  beautiful 
fcenes,  and  alfo  for  aflifting  in  forming 
them,  themfelves. 

To-morrow  I  return  to  Hufbandry  ;  al- 
low me  therefore  here  to  conclude  myfelf. 


LET- 


[    362    ] 


LETTER     XXII. 

^TpHE  foil  about  Hagley  is  various; 
light  loams,  fand,  and  cold  fliiFfpun- 
gy  clays.  The  average  rent  is  about  10  s. 
an  acre  :  There  is  fome  arable  that  letts 
at  30  J.  and  fome  meadows  fo  high  as  3/. 
Farms  from  50/.  to  200/.  a  year. 
The  courfes, 

1.  Turneps 

2.  Barley 

3.  Peafe 

4.  Wheat 

5.  Barley 

6.  Clover  two  or  three  years,  and 

then  fome  add 

7.  Wheat  on  one  earth. 
Aifo, 

1.  Fallow 

2.  Wheat 

3.  Oats 

4.  Clover  and  ray  grafs. 

They  plough  four  times  for  wheat,  fow 
two  budiels  on  cold  lands  before  MichaeU 
tiias ;  and  gain,  upon  an  average,  twenty- 
eight 


[  363  ] 

eight  bufliels.  For  barley  they  fllr  three 
times,  fow  three  buPnels  and  a  half  in 
March  or  Aprils  and  gain  upon  an  ave- 
rage thirty-five  ,  fixty  have  been  gotten. 
They  ftir  but  once  for  oats,  fow  four 
bufhels  before  barley  feed  time;  the 
mean  crop  thirty-fix.  They  like  wife  give 
but  one  ploughing  for  peafe,  fow  three 
bulliels  and  a  half,  or  four ;  never  hoe 
them;  and  get  thirty  in  return.  For  rye 
they  plough  twice,  fow  two  bufhels  and 
a  half;  the  crop  twenty. 

For  turneps  they  give  three  ploughings  ; 
do  not  hoe  them  :  The  average  value  301. 
per  acre  ;  \\{q,  them  chiefly  for  flieep. 
Clover  they  fow  with  barley  or  oats ;  mow 
the  firft  crop,  of  which  they  get  three 
ton  of  hay  per  acre,  and  graze  it  after- 
wards.    Many   farmers  mix  trefoile  with 

it. 

Some  few  tares  fown,  for  feeding  horfes 
with,  green.     Very  few  potatoes. 

Lime  is  the  principal  manure  ;  they  lay 
one  waggon  load  per  acre ;  formerly  they 
had  as  much  as  they  could  carry  for  9  j.  or 
10  s,  but  now  only  fixty  bufhcls  for  13  j.  or 
J  4 J.  they  ufe  it  for  turnep?,  and  find   it 


aniwcrs 


[    364    ] 

anfwers  beft  on  light  land :  Some  few  far- 
mers mix  earth  with  it. 

Draining  is  pretty  well  imderftood  here, 
and  that  chiefly  owing  to  the  excellent 
example  of  Lord  Littleto?!,  who  ordered 
many  drains  to  be  dug  of  various  depths* 
and  three  or  four  inches  wide  at  bottom ; 
the  method  ufed  in  filling  them  on  grafs 
land  (where  they  were  chiefly  made)  was 
to  take  the  firft  fpit  of  turfs,  and  wedge 
them  into  the  drains,  and  then  throw  in 
the  moulds,  without  flione,  wood,  or  any 
thing;  and  the  drains  thus  made  have 
flood  exceedingly  well,  and  never  yet 
failed.  It  is  an  excellent  contrivance,  and 
highly  worthy  of  imitation,  and  efpecially 
in  countries  where  ftones  and  wood  are 
fcarce. 

The  common  farmers  alfo  drain  their 
morafly  lands  in  a  very  eifedtual  manner, 
by  cuts  a  yard  wide  at  top,  fixteen  inches 
at  bottom,  and  four  feet  deep ;  they  fill  up 
eighteen  inches  deep,  with  logs  of  wood 
and  faggots,  and  then  the  moulds.  The 
cod  of  thefe  drains  is  i  s,  the  perch  of 
eight  yards.  The  improvement  is  ex- 
tremely great ;  they  make  land  of  5  s,  an 
acre  worth  30  i-.  at  once. 

They 


i    3«5     ] 

They  ftack  their  hay  at  home;  and 
fome  few  have  got  into  the  way  oi'  chop- 
ping their  ftubblesi  convinced  not  only  of 
the  importance  of  Uttering  cattle  well,  but 
alfo  of  raifing  large  quantities  of  manure. 

Good  grafs  land  letts  in  general  from  2  /, 
to  3/.  an  acre,  and  is  ufed  moftly  for  dai- 
rying; but  the  country,  however,  is  chiefly 
in  tillage.  An  acre  will  fummcr  feed  a 
COW;  or  keep  feven  rtieep.  They  univtr- 
fally  water  their  grafs  fields  whenever  it 
can  be  done,  which  they  find  the  greateft 
improvement  of  all.  Their  breed  of  cattle 
is  the  long  horns.  The  produd:  of  a  cow 
they  reckon  6/.  or  6  /.  lO-r.  They  ufed  to 
be  lett  at  3/.  rent;  but  now  it  is  much 
higher.  The  average  quantity  of  milk, 
four  or  five  gallons.  To  three  cows  they 
generally  keep  two  pigs:  And  feven  they 
reckon  the  proper  number  for  a  dairy 
maid.  Barley  ftrawis  the  winter  food  till 
Ccmdlemasy  then  fome  hay,  of  the  latter 
about  a  ton  to  a  cow.  They  are  kept  all 
winter  in  the  farm  yard,  the  fumm.cf 
joill:  is  2  J.  a  week.  The  calves  fuck  in  ge- 
neral four  or  five  weeks. 

The 


[     366    ] 

The  flocks  of  fheep  rife  from  forty  to  fonvi 
five  hundred,  and  a  thoufand,  on  com- 
mons. The  profit  in  inclofures,  they  reckon 
doubling  their  money,  or  about  los.  or 
I2S.  2L  head,  and  on  the  commons  about 
2s.  or  2  J.  6d.  There  is  no  folding.  The 
average  fleece  about  \  lb,\y  or  2  lb.  fells  at 
1 J-.  a  pound. 

In  their  tillage  they  reckon  feven  horfes 
necelfary  for  a  hundred  acres  of  arable  land. 
They  ufe  three  at  length  in  a  plough  with 
a  driver,  and  do  an  acre  a  day. 

But  a  new  invention  is  coming  in  very 
fail,  which  is  the  ufe  of  double  ploughs  j 
which  with  only  the  addition  of  one  horfe* 
does  double  the  work,  by  turning  two  fur- 
rows at  once  :  It  is  no  gimcrackery  bufi- 
nefs,  but  fo  folid  and  firong  a  machine  that 
the  co7nmo7i  farmers  approve  it,  and  accor- 
dingly fome  hundreds  of  them  are  made* 
In  Plate  X.  fig.  i.  is  a  fketch  I  took  of 
one  of  them. 

The  annual  expence  of  a  horfe,  they 
reckon  at  6/.  or  6/.  loj.  The  fummer 
joift  is  2s.(>d.  and  3^.  a  week.  The  time 
of  breaking  up  the  ftubbles  for  a  fallow  is 
about  May-day,  The  price  of  ploughing, 
per  acre  6j-.  the  depth  three  to  five  inches. 

The 


[  367  ] 

The  hire  per  day  of  a  cart,  three  horfcs, 
and  driver,  5  s.  of  four  horfes  and  two 
carts,  7  J. 

Great  quantities  of  ftraw  cut  into  chaff. 
In  the  hiring  of  farms  they  reckon  550  /. 
necelTary  for  one  of  100  /.  a  year  ;  but  many 
are  taken  for  a  lefs  fum. 

Land  fells  at  thirty  and  thirty-three 
years  purchafe. 

Tythes  are  generally  taken  in  kind. 
Poor  rates  3  j-.  to  4  j-.  in  the  pound ;  the 
employment  of  the  women  and  children 
fpinning ;  all  drink  tea. 

The  farmers  carry  their  corn  three  or 
four  miles. 

Leafes  are  in  general  upon  terms,  from 
feven  to  twenty-one  years. 

Th't  following  are  particulars  of  feveral 
farms  in  this  neighbourhood, 
100  acres  in  all 
10  grafs 
90  arable 
£.  1 20  rent 
7  horfes 
6  cows 

5  young  cattle 
ij;o  flieep 
I  man 

2  maids 


[    368    3 

2  maids 
I  boy 

1  labourer 

3  waggons 

2  carts 

3  ploughs. 
Another, 

150  acres  in  all 
30  grafs 
120  arable 
jT.  no  rent 
8  horfes 
12  cows 
2  fatting  beafts 

4  young  cattle 
200  fheep 

2  men 

1  boy 

2  maids 

3  labourers 
3  waggons 

2  carts 

3  ploughs. 
Another, 

135  acres  in  all 
100  arable 

35  gi'^rs 

X.90  rent 


6  horfes 


t  369  ] 

6  horfes 

7  cows 

I  fatting  bead 
5  young  cattle 
130  fheep 

1  man 

2  boys 

4  labourers 

3  waggons 

3  carts 

2  ploughs. 
Another, 

80  acres  in  all 
1 2  grafs 
68  arable 
£.50  rent 

4  horfes 
6  cows 

4  young  cattle 
10  fheep 
I  man 
i  boy 
I  maid 
I  labourer 

1  waggon 

2  carts 

2  ploughs. 
Vol.  ir.  B  b  Anorhcr, 


[    370    ] 
Another, 

45  acres  in  all 
10  grafs 
35  arable 
£.25  rent 
3  horfes 
6  cows 

5  young  cattle 
I  boy 
I  maid 

1  labourer 

2  carts 

I  plough- 

LABOUR. 

In  harveft,  is.  and  board. 
In  hay-time,  ditto. 
In  winter,  is.  and  beer. 
Reaping,  ^  s.  6  d,  to  6  s. 
Mowing  corn,  i  s.  6  d. 

— grafs,  2  s.  to  2  s.  6d. 

Ditching,  ^\d.  to  6d.  eight  yards. 
Threfliing  wheat,   3 1  <^.  per  bufhel. 

barley,  2  d. 

oats,  i\  d. 

peafe,  2  d. 

Amount  of  a  year's  earnings,  15/.  to  16  L 
Head  man's  wages,  10/. 

Next 


[   ?>y'  ] 

Next  ditto,  6  /.  i  o  j-.  to  7  /. 

Boy  of  ten  or  twelve,  2  /.  1 5  j-. 

Dairy  maids,  3  /.  i  o  j-. 

Other  ditto,   2  /.  i  5  j. 

Women  per  d^y  in  harvefl:,  6  ^/.  and  board. 

ill  hay  time,  bd.  and  beer. 

in  winter,  5  d. 

Value    of  a   man's    board,    wad^iinn^,    and 
lodging,  10/. 

IMPLEMENTS,    &c. 

A  \va?2;on,    18  /. 

A  cart,  8  /.  to  9  /. 

A  plough,  1/.  IS. 

A  double  ditto,  2 1.  10  s. 

A  harrow,    i/.  to  i/.  51. 

A  fey  the,   3^".  6  d.  to  ^s. 

A  fpade,    41. 

Pointing  a  coulter  and  lliare,  4^/. 

Shoeing,  is.  ^d. 

Cart  harnefs,  1/.  cs.  per  h.ov(Q. 

PROVISIONS,   ^c. 

Bread —  Wheat,  3  ^  Z^.  for  6  :/. 
Cheefe,    4  c'/. 
Butter,  7  d.  I  8  oz. 
Beef,   3  c/. 

B   b   2  Mutton, 


[    372     ] 

Mutton,  3  I  ^/. 

Veal,  3  d. 

Pork,  i\d. 

Milk,   \  d.  per  pint. 

Potatoes,  4^.  to  td.  per  peck. 

Candles,  ^\  d,  per  lb. 

Soap,  7  d. 

Labourer's  houfe-rent,  2/.  10/.  to  3  /. 

firing,  30/. 

tools,  5  J. 

BUILDING. 

Bricks,  1 2  J.  /»^r  thoufand. 
Tiles,   1 4  X. 

Mafon  per  day,    i  s,   \d. 
Carpenter,   i  s,   4  d, 
Thatcher,  i  /.  and  board. 

In  the  pari(h  of  Hagley  are  the  follow- 
ing farms,  befides  fmall  fpots,  and  Lord 
Lit  t  let  on  ^  park. 

No.  I     200  acres    X-HO 1"^^^ 

2  80  5^ 

3  68         40 

4  45         25 

5  70  30 

6  150  85 

"    7      80  80 

N^  8 


[     373    1 


.  B 

200 

130 

9 

i6o 

120 

lO 

^35 

90 

1 1 

3^ 

15 

12 

140 

70 

^3 

25 

48 

13S3  ^-9^3 

In  the  whole  about  2000  acres. 
The   cattle   upon    thefe    farms   are   as 
follow : 


.  I 

7  he 

)ries  10  co^ 

A'S   30 

2 

4 

6 

10 

3 

5 

4 

10 

4 

3 

6 

0 

5 

8 

10 

3<> 

6 

7 

4 

150 

7 

6 

H 

200 

8 

7 

7 

200 

9 

7 

8 

150 

10 

5 

5 

120 

1 1 

3 

I 

40 

12 

7 

8 

160 

13 

5 

0 

0 

— 

— 

— — 

74 

83 

1 1 00 

" 

Bb3 

My 


[     374     ] 

My  next  flage  was  to  Eroomfgrove, 
where  the  hufbandry  is  as  follows : 

The  foil  is  of  two  forts,  fand  and  clay ; 
rents  high,  from  20  j-.  to  40  j-.  an  acre. 
Fa'rms  from  40  /.  to  200  /.  a  year. 

The  courfe, 

1 .  Fallow 

2.  Wheat 
"  -^r  Barley 

4.  Clover,  two  or  three  years 

5.  \Vheat 

6.  Turneps 

7.  Barley 

8.  Peafe 

9.  Oats 
10.   Clover. 

Which  would  be,  upon  the  whole,  ex- 
cellent, did  not  the  barley  and  wheat  come 
together  at  firft. 

The  average  crops  are. 

Of  Wheat  35  to  40  bufhels. 
Of  Barley  40  to  45. 
Of  Oats  50. 

Of  Beans  40,  fet  and  hoed. 
Of  Peafe  30. 
For  turneps  they  plough  three  or  four 
times;   no  hoeinfy,  which  is  very  extraordi- 
nary  among  farmers  that  hoe  their  beans. 

The 


[     375     ] 
The  average  value  is  30 j-.  per  acre;  they 
ule  them  for  flieep  and  bealh. 

For  potatoes  they  generally  plough  up 
the  turf,  and  dibble  the  ilices  in  one  foot 
from  each  other.  While  growing,  they 
hand  hoe  and  hand  weed  well.  They  get 
large  crops  in  this  manner,  and  very  fine 
wheat  or  barley  after  them. 

They  have  plenty  of  marie  in  this  coun- 
try, chiefly  red  and  blue  ;  they  lay  thirty 
three-horfe  cart  loads  on  an  acre ;  and 
reckon  that  it  lafts  very  good  five  or  fix 
years ;  cofts  3  /.  an  acre  ;  it  is  reckoned  a 
vafl  improvement.  Of  lime  they  lay  a 
waggon-load  per  acre  of  fixty  bufhels  ;  it 
cofts  i/.  carriage  included. 

The  product  of  a  cow  they  reckon  at 
3  /.  to  4  /.  the  quantity  of  milk  from  two 
to  fix  gallons  a  day. 

Very  few  flieep  kept. 

In  their  tillage  they  reckon  eight  horfes 
necefTary  for  the  management  of  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  arable  land;  ufe  four  in  a 
plough,  and  do  an  acre  a  day.  Some  farn.- 
ers  have  the  double  ploughs,  which  they 
work  alfo  with  four  horfes.  They  calcu- 
late the  annual  expence  of  a  horfe  at  8/. 
May  is  the  time  of  breaking  up  the  ftub- 

B  b  4  bles 


[    376    ] 

bics  for  a  fallow;  and  the  price  of  plough" 
ing  4  /.  to  5  s.  per  acre ;  the  depth  four 
to  fix  inches. 

The  hire  of  a  cart,  three  horfes,  and  a 
driver,  8j.  a  day. 

They  pradlice  the  cutting  of  ftraw  into 
chaff  in  common. 

Four  hundred  pounds  they  reckon  necef- 
fary  for  a  man  who  hires  a  farm  of  i  oo  /. 
a  year. 

Tythes  both  gathered  and  compounded  \ 
if  the  latter. 

Wheat  pays  ^j. 
Barley  4^. 
Oats  2s.  6d. 
Peafe  4J. 

Poor  rates,  is.  to  2j. 
The    following    particulars    of    farms 
will  fhew  the  general  ceconomy. 
60  acres  in  all 
40  arable 
20  grafs 
^.  100  rent 
6  horfes 
15  cows 
5  young  cattle 
2  men 
I  boy 

I  maid 


[    377    1 

I  maid 

1  labourer 

2  waggons 
2  carts 

2  ploughs. 
Another, 

2 GO  acres  In  all 
40  grafs 
160  arable 
j^.  180  rent 
10  horfes 
20  cows 
6  fatting  beafts 
20  young  cattle 
20  fheep 

3  men 

2  boys 

3  maids 

4  labourers. 
Another, 

40  acres  in  all 
10  grafs 
30  arable 

£-53  rent 

4  horfes 

5  cows 

8  young  cattle 
J  boy 


I  maid. 


[    373    : 

I  maid. 
Another, 

^^  acres  In  all 
15  grafs 
40  arable 
£.6g  rent 

5  horfes 

8  cows 
3  o  young  cattle 

I  man 

I  bov 

I  maid. 

LABOUR. 

In  harveft,    i  j-.  and  board. 

In  hay  time,  ditto. 

In  winter,  g  d.  10  d.  and  beer,  and  a  dinner 

now  and  then. 
Reaping  4  /.  6  ^.  to    5  j.  per  acre. 
Mowing  corn,  i  s. 

grafs,  2  s. 

Threiliing  wheat,  3^.  a  bufhel. 

barlev,   i\  d. 

oats,    \d, 

peafe,  \d. 

Amount  of  a  labourer's  year's  earnings,  20/, 

Firft  man's  wages,   8  /. 

Next  ditto,  6  /. 

Boy  often  or  twelve  years,  50/, 

Dairy  maids,  3  /.  Other 


i     379     ] 

Other  ditto,   50/. 

Women  per  day  in  harveil:,  6  ii.  and  board. 
In  hay  time,  ditto. 
In  winter,   6d.  and  beer. 
Value    of    a    man's   board,   walhing,  and 
lodging,  6  /. 

IMPLEMENTS,    ^c, 

A  waggon,   20/. 

A  cart,  S/. 

A  plough,  1/.  IJ-. 

A  harrow,    i  5  s. 

A  roller,    ioj.  6  J, 

A  icythe,  3  j-. 

A  Ipade,  4  s. 

Laying  a  fhare  and  coulter,  is. 

Shoeing,  2  s. 

Cart-harnels,  30/.  perhoric. 

PROVISIONS,    &c. 

Bread — wheaten,  i[c/, 
Cheele,   3  -  d. 
Butter,  ■/  J.  17  oz. 
Beef,    3./. 
Mutton,    7,  \  d. 
Veal,   2\1 
Pork,    4^/. 

Milk,  i  d.  per  pint. 

Potatoes 


[   38o  ] 

Potatoes,  4/ 

Candles,  7  d. 

Soap,  7  d. 

Labourer's  houfe  rent,  30/.  to  50/. 

#— ■—  firing,  30^. 

At  Broom/grove  I  firil:  remarked  the 
abominable  cuftom  of  dripping  up  the  tim- 
ber trees,  to  make  them  look  like  May- 
poles, to  the  utter  deftru6lion  of  the  tim- 
ber, and  diftorting  the  face  of  the  whole 
country. 

Four  miles  on  this  fide  of  Worcejier  land 
letts  from  1 5  s.  to  40  s.  an  acre ;  farms 
from  20/.  to  200/.  a  year. 

Worcejier  is  a  very  well  built,  and  hand- 
fbme  city  :  the  great  ftreet  is  remarkably 
fine.  It  is  fuppofed  to  contain  about  twen- 
ty-five thoufand  fouls ;  but  this  I  take  to 
be  an  exaggeration.  There  are  feveral 
manufacflures  carried  on  here,  of  which 
the  Glovers  is  the  mofl  confiderable*  em- 
ploying feveral  thoufands  of  hands. 

Men  earn  from  7^.  to  (^s.  per  week. 

Women  \s.  to  ^s. 

Children  \.s.6d.  to  3/.  6d. 

Burying  crapes  are  alfo  made  here ;  the 
men  in  which  branch  earn  from  ^s.  to  qs, 
a  week. 

The 


[    38'     ] 

The  Porcelane  works  are  very  famous  ; 
but  not  carried  to  that  degree  of  perR-  Hon 
which  fome  have  alTerted  :  the  clearnefs 
of  the  ground,  and  the  beauty  of  the 
paintings,  are  neither  of  them  equal  to  the 
Drefden,  which  it  is  pity  they  do  not  aim, 
with  more  fpirit,  to  equal,  and  then  ex- 
cel. It  is  well  known  that  all  the  por- 
celane in  Europe  may  be  melted  in  a  Dref- 
Aen  cup,  unhurt  j  and  that  the  Drcfdm 
cup  will  itfelf  melt  in  an  old  China  one, 
unhurt ;  which  (hews  the  amazing  perfec- 
tion that  empire  had  long  ago  attained  in. 
every  part  of  the  curious  arts  that  do  not 
depend  on  defign.  The  earnings  of  th« 
people  employed  at  Worcejicr  are  various. 

Men  from  I2x.  to  3  /.  i  5  x.  a  week 

The  Labourers  6  s.  and  js. 

Children  i  j.  to  3  s. 

From  Worcejler  I  took  the  road  to  O.v- 
ford,  through  a  country  whofe  agriculture 
is  extremely  various.  At  Perjhore  I  made 
enquiries,  and  found  that  the  foil  is  all  of 
the  heavy  kind,  either  clay  or  loam  :  lu- 
clofed  lands  lett  from  15/.  to  20s.  p^'r 
acre.    The  open  at  i  o  .r.    Farms  from  60  /. 

to  150/. 

Their 


[    382    ] 
Their  courfes, 

1.  Fallow 

2.  Barley 

3.  Beans 

4.  Wheat. 

A  moil:  excellent  courfe  for  heavy  land. 

1.  Fallow 

2.  Barley 

3.  Peafe 

4.  Wheat. 
'    Alfo, 

1.  Turneps 

2.  Barley 

3.  Clover,  one  year 

4.  Wheat. 

■  This  likewife  excellent.     The  average 
crops  as  follow  : 

Of  wheat  twenty-five  bufhels. 
Of  barley  twenty-four. 
Of  beans  twenty-five. 
Of  peafe  twenty-five. 
They  plough  three   times  for  turneps  ', 
never  hoe,  i/.  loj-.  the  average  value. 

They  ufe  a  little  Hme,  twenty  budaels 
per  acre t  3!^.  each,  they  reckon  it  good 
only  for  light  land. 

The  prcdu(ft  of  a  cow  they  value  at  3  /. 
The  flocks  of  fheep  eighty  to  tv.'o  hundred ; 

the 


[  383  ] 

the  profit  10  J.  ahead.  To  one  hundred 
acres  of  arable  they  allot  lix  horfes,  iifc 
them  five  at  length,  do  an  acre  a  day  ; 
the  depth  they  ftir  four  or  five  inches  -,  four 
Shillings  an  acre  the  price  of  ploughing. 

The   following    are    the    particulars   of 
fome  farms  in  this  neighbourhood  : 
260  acres  in  all    . 
100  grafs 
160  arable 
£'  300  rent 
15  horfes 
24  cows 
14  young  cattle 
100  flieep 
4  men 
3  boys 

2  maids 

3  labourers 

4  waggons 
4  carts 

6  ploughs. 
Another, 

100  acres  in  all 
60  grafs 
90  arable 
/.  100  rent 
9  horfes 

14  cows 


[    384    ) 

14  COWS 

lo  young  cattle 

50  fheep 

1  man 

2  boys 
2  maids 

2  labourers 

2  waggons 

3  carts 

2  ploughs. 
Another, 

90  acres  in  all  , 
10  grafs 
80  arable 
/;.7orent 

5  horfes 

5  cows 
10  young  cattle 

I  man 

I  boy 

I  labourer. 

LABOUR. 

In  harveft,  30  j.  and  board  for  the  harveft. 

In  hay  time,  is.  and  board. 

In  winter,  10  d,  and  beer. 

Reaping,  2x.  6^.  and  board. 

Mowing 


t     35s    J 
Mowing  corn,  8^.  and  board. 

i grafs,  IJ-. 

Ditching,  6  ^.  to  8  d.  eight  yards. 
Threfhing  wheat,  3  ^.  to  4  d. 
■ '  ■  barley,  2d. 
oats,  iid. 
•         — peafe,  2d. 

• beans,  1 1^0 

Firfl  man's  wages,  9  /.  to  10  /. 

Next  ditto,  8  /. 

Boy  of  ten  or  twelve  years,  3  A 

Maids,  3  /. 

Women  per  day  in  harveft,  6  d.  and  board. 

In  hay  time,  6  d.  and  beer. 

In  winter,  5  d. 

PROVISIONS,   ^c. 

Wheaten  bread,  ild, 

Cheefe,   3  d. 

Butter,   7  d. 

Beef,  3  d. 

Mutton,  3  d. 

Veal,  2  d. 

Pork,  4^. 

Candles,  yd.  ' 

Soap,  7  d. 

Labourer's  houferent,  20  s.  to  30J. 

Vol.  Ill,  Cc  Labourer's 


[    386    ] 

Labourer's  firing,  30  /. 

tools,    lOi. 

Amount  of  a  year's  earnings,  1 5  /. 

IMPLEMENTS,    ^c. 

A  waggon,  15/.  to  20  /. 

A  cart,  5/.  to  7/. 

A  plough,   I  o  J. 

A  harrow,  20  s. 

A  fcythe,   3  j.  6  </. 

A  fpade,   3  j.  6  ^.  to  4  /. 

Shoeing,  \s.  4^. 

In  the  neighbourhood  of  Bend/worth 
the  hulbandry  improves  greatly,  being  car- 
ried on  with  more  fpirit  than  common. 
This  is  the  agriculture  of  tlie  Fale  of  Eve^ 
Jham, 

The  foil  is  chiefly  clay,  but  much  loam, 
and  fome  that  is  light.  Rents  from  15/. 
to  30  J-.  average  21s.  Farms  rife  from 
40/.  to  1000/.  a  year;  but  are  in  general 
large. 

The  principal  courfes  are, 

1.  Fallow 

2.  Barley 

3.  Beans 

4.  Wheat. 

And, 


[     3^7     ] 
And, 

1.  Turneps 

2.  Barley 

3.  Wheat 

4.  Oats  ;  very  bad. 

And, 

1.  Turnep'^. 

2.  Barley 

3.  Peafe 

4.  Wheat. 
Alfo, 

1.  Fallow 

2.  Barley 

3.  Clover,  two  years 

4.  Wheat 

5.  Oats. 

The  average  crops  are  very  great. 
Of  wheat  four  quarters. 
Of  rye  four,  but  little  fown. 
Of  barley  fix. 
Of  oats  eight. 
Of  peafe  twenty-five  bufliels. 

For  beans  they  plough  once,  and  dung 
well,  and  fet  them  in  rows  from  fifteen  to 
eighteen  inches  afunder,  hand-hoe  thcni 
twice,  which  cofts  4/.  an  acre  each  time; 
the  average  crop  five  quarters :  The  wheat 
C  c  2  after 


_    [    388    ] 
after  them   Is  generally  fuperlor  to  that 
after  a  fallow. 

For  turneps  they  fllr  but  twice,  hoe 
them  once  J  the  value  ^^r  acre  from  30J". 
to  3  /.  Ufe  them  for  fheep.  Clover  they 
ufe  for  feeding  their  horfes  in  the  inclo- 
fures ;  and  alfo  for  the  fpring  feed  of  lambs. 

For  potatoes  they  manure  well  with  long 
dung,  plough  but  once,  dibble  them  in,  in 
rows,  one  foot  afunder;  get  three  or  four 
hundred  bufhels /(^r  acre  j  fow  wheat  after 
them. 

They  have  neither  marie  or  lime,  nor 
do  they  want  them,  for  the  natural  rich- 
nefs  of  their  clays  is  very  great,  being  of 
that  fort  that  falls  like  lime  with  the  win- 
ter's frofts.  They  conftantly  fold  their 
(heep ;  Hack  their  hay  at  home;  and  many 
of  them  chop  their  ftubbles. 

Good  grafs  lets  from  30  j.  to  40  j. 
it  is  ufed  both  for  fatting  and  dairying : 
One  acre  will  carry  a  cow  through  the 
fummer,  or  eight  fheep.  The  breed  of 
cattle  is  between  the  long  and  fhort  horns ; 
their  oxen  fat  to  about  lixty  fcore.  The 
produ<fl  of  a  cow  they  calculate  at  5/.  five 
gallons  of  milk  about  the  average  quantity 
per  cow.     To  ten  cows  they  keep  about 

two 


[  389  ] 

two  fows ;  and  eight  the  proper  number 
for  a  dairy  maid.  The  winter  food  is  ftraw 
and  hay,  of  the  latter  from  fifteen  hundred 
weight  to  a  ton  each.  The  calves  fuck 
fix  weeks.  The  fummer  joift  i  j-.  6  t/.  a 
week.  In  winter  they  are  kept  in  open 
farms  in  the  farm  yard,  but  in  inclofed  ones, 
in  the  fields. 

Their  hogs  they  fat  fo  very  high  as  to 
forty  fcore,  but  twenty  common. 

The  flocks  of  iheep  rife  from  fixty  to 
twelve  hundred,  the  profit  they  reckon  at 
8/.  or  9  i.  a  head.  The  average  fleece,  in 
the  inclofures  9  lb,  in  the  open  fields  3  or 

In    their    tillage    they   reckon   twelve 
horfes    neceflTary   for    100  acres   of  arable 
land  j   ufe  five  or  fix  at  length,  and  do  an 
acre  a  day.     The  annual  expence  of  a  horfe 
they  calculate  at  7/.     The  fummer  joift 
\s.    ()d,   a  week.     They  break    up   their 
ftubbles  for  a  fallow  in  March,    The  price 
of  ploughing  per  acre  is  6  s.  and  the  depth 
two  and  a  half  or  three  inches  i  it  is  afto- 
niiiiing  they  can  get  fuch  noble  crops  with 
fiich  ploughing ;  but  this  feems  to  prove,  that 
fertility  of  foil  is  the  grand  point,  and  that 
the  authors,    who  have  fo  generally  pre- 
C  c   -i  fcnbcd 


[    39^    ] 

icribed  very  deep  ploughing  as  abfolutely 
necefTary  in  all  foils,  are  ftrangely  mistaken. 
It  is  much  to  be  queftioned  whether  one 
acre  of  wheat  with  two  inches  of  plough- 
ing in  this  country,  docs  not  yield  four 
times  as  much  as  fuch  writers  have  gained 
with  their  inort  philofophlcal condiwdi : — not, 
however,  that  I  plead  for  fliallow  plough- 
ing. 

The  hire  of  a  cart,  three  horfes,  and  a 
driver,  5  J.  a  day. 

In  the  hiring  and  flocking  of  farms,  their 
ideas  (peak  a  much  more  fpirited  hulban- 
dry  than  I  have  commonly  met  with.  For 
the  flocking  a  farm  of  500/.  a  year,  con- 
fiding of  500  acres,  half  grafs  and  half 
arable,  they  calculate  the  following  articles 
necelTary. 

Twenty-fix  horfes,  at  15  /.  jC  39^ 
Twelve  hundred  fiieep,  -  1200 
Thirty  cows,  -  -  -  -  240 
Swine,  -  -  ,  -  -  10 
Harnefs  -  -  --_-  ^5 
Four   waggons,    one    a    broad 

\^ieel  one,       -      -      -       -      100 
Two  broad  wheel  carts,      -     -      24 

1999 
Two 


[    39^    ] 

iCi999 
Two  narrow  ditto,     -      -      -       12 

All  other  implements,       -      -  80 

Rent,       -     -----      -  ^00 

Town  charges,       -     -      -      -  ^o 

Houfe  -  keeping,   befides   what 

comes  from  the  farm,     -    -  100 

Furniture,     ---     --     -  200 

Five  men,     ------  40 

Four  boys,      ------  12 

Four  labourers,      -     -     -      -  80 

Three  maids,       -      -     -      -  10 

Seed, 

Seventy  acres  of  wheat,     -      -  100 

Seventy barley,       -     -  45 

Thirty-five  —  beans,             -  28 
Thirty-five  —  oats,           -       -17 

Twenty clover,       -       -  8 

Land  fells  at  twenty-eight  and  thirty 
years  purchafe. 

Poor  rates  very  high,  higher  than  the 
land  tax,  to  41.  in  the  pound;  in  the  vil- 
lages no  where  lower  than  2  s. 

The  employment  of  the  poor  women 

and  children    is    chiefly    with    the    gar- 

C  c  4  dencrs. 


[392     ] 

dencrs,  of  whom  (as  at  Sandy,  in  Bed- 
fordjhire,)  there  are  great  numbers :  be- 
tween three  and  four  hundred  acres  of 
land  in  this  neighbourhood  are  fo  employed> 
that  let  for  50  s.  and  3  /.  an  acre :  They 
carry  their  products  around  the  country, 
to  Birmingham,  Worcejler,  Tewkjbury^ 
Gloticejier,  Warwick,  Coventry,  Staw,  &c. 
and  feeds  to  Stafford,  Litchfield,  Leicefier, 
Nottingham,  &c.  afparagus  to  Bath  and 
Brifiol.  Befides  this  employ,  the  poor  knit 
caps  and  ftockings,  2d,  to  6  d.  2.  day.  All 
drink  tea. 

Farmers  have  no  diftance  to  carry  their 
corn ;  all  is  ufed  at  home. 

Leafes    from    fourteen    to    twenty-one 
years. 

The  following  are  particulars  of  farms 
in  this  neighbourhood  : 

200  acres  all  arable 
X.  170  rent 
12  horfes 
16  cows 
5  young  cattle 
1 70  fheep 

1  man 

2  boys 

2  maids 

8  labourers 


[     393     1 

8  labourers 
4  waggons 

3  carts 

4  ploughs. 
Another, 

850  acres  in  all 
450  grafs 
400  arable 
^.800  rent 
30  horfes 
40  cows 
40  fatting  beafls 
20  young  cattle 
1000  flieep 
8  men 
4  boys 
^  maids 
I  o  labourers 

6  waggons 
8  carts 

10  ploughs. 
Another, 

70  acres  in  all 
50  arable 
20  grafs 
^.70  rent 

7  horfes 
i8o  fheep 


I  maid 


[     394    ] 

1  maid 

4  labourers 
3  waggons 

2  carts 

2  ploughs. 
Another, 

90  acres  all  arable 
jr.50  rent 
8  horfes 
10  cows 
2  young  cattle 
100  fheep 
I  man 
I  maid 

1  boy 

2  labourers 

3  waggons 
2  carts 

2  ploughs. 

LABOUR. 

Jn  harveft,  30J.  and  board  for  the  harveft. 
In  hay  time,  ij-.  td.  and  beer. 
In  winter,  is.  and  beer. 
Reaping,  ^s.  to  6  s. 
Mowing  corn,  is.  6d. 

grafs,  2  s. 

Hoeing  turneps,  51.  6d,  to  js, 

Hoeino' 


[     395     ] 
Hoeing  beans,  6  j.  to  8  s. 
Ditching,  6  ^.  to  9  ^. 
Threfhing  wheat  4  </.  per  buflicl. 

— barley,  2  J. 

oats,  il^. 

— beans,  ild. 

Digging,  2  /.  I  o  J-.  or  3  /. 
Amount  of  a  year's  earnings,  18/- 
Firfl  man's  wages,  10/. 
Next  ditto,  7  /.  to  9  /. 
Boy  of  ten  or  twelve  years,  2s.  6  J.  a  week. 
Dairy  maids,  4/. 
Other  ditto,  2/.  los.  to  3/. 
Women  in  harveft,  14  s,  and  board. 
In  hay  time,  7  ^. 

Value  of  a  man's  board,  wafliing,  and  lodg- 
ing,  12/. 

IMPLEMENTS,  tfr. 

A  waggon,  18/, 

A  cart,  6  /. 

A  plough,  20  J". 

A  harrow,  20  s.  to  4  /. 

A  roller,  20/.  to  40  j-. 

A  fey  the,  /\.s,  6d, 

A  fpadc,  3  J.  6  rf'. 

Shoeing,  is,  Sd. 

Cart-harnefs, />d'r  horfe,  i/.  6s, 

PRO- 


[    396    ] 

PROVISIONS,    &c. 

Bread  —  wheaten,  i{d, 

Cheefe,  3?^. 

Batter,  8  ^, 

Beef,  2 1  J, 

Mutton,  3  {i. 

Veal,  3  J. 

Pork,  3f^. 

Milk,  f  </.  j^^r  pint. 

Potatoes,   8  d. 

Candles,  6  ^. 

Soap,  6d, 

Labourer's  houfe  rent,  i  os,  to  i  p, 

^ firing,  25  J-. 

tools,  2s.  6  d. 

Coals,  T^s,  a  ton,  laid  in. 

BUILDING. 

Tiles,  18/.  per  thoufand. 

Oak  timber,  is.  4^.  to  2s. 

Afli  ditto,   I  J",  to  IJ-.  4^/. 

Elm,  IS. 

Mafon  per  day,  is.  6^  and  beer. 

Carpenter,  is.  bd.  and  ditto. 

Thatcher,  is.  4^.  and  beer. 

Farm-houfes,  plaifter  and  thatch ;  a  few 

brick  and  tile. 

In 


[     397     ] 

In  the  parifh  of  Bend/worth  are, 
1 500  acres 
1 4  farms 
80  horfes 
I  20  cows 
1000  fheep 
^.  1 000  rent,  (befides  that  of  houfes) 
jf.  200  rates 
600  labourers. 

The  following  experiments  and  remarks 
of  Mr.  William  Pemiyy  who  keeps  the  Inn 
at  Bendfwo7-thy  are  much  worthy  of  notice. 
He  is  very  fenfible  and  intelligent. 

In  the  pla?iti??g  of  wheat  he  made  this 
trial :  Upon  a  loamy  foil,  a  mixture  of  clay 
and  fand,  he  fet  a  peck  of  wheat  on  the 
third  of  an  acre,  in  rows,  nine  inches  aftin- 
der,  and  fix  inches  from  grain  to  grain  : 
The  land  had  been  well  fallowed :  The 
crop  was  neither  hand  hoed  nor  hand 
weeded :  Produce  thirty-four  pecks ;  but 
there  being  a  path  acrofs  the  field,  wafted 
a  fifth  :  Total,  therefore  forty  pecks,  or, 
per  acre,  thirty  bufhels.  This  is  a  very 
great  produce  from  fo  fmall  a  quantity  of 
feed,  and  proves  much  in  favour  of  the  ad- 
vocates for  thinner  feeding  than  common. 

The 


t    3^8    ]  ■ 

The  expencc  of  planting  was  3/.  or  gsi, 
per  acre. 

Mr.  Penny  makes  it  a  rule  in  the  feed- 
ing his  ground,  always  to  change  the  foil, 
but  not  the  feed  :  That  is,  upon  clay  to 
fow  wheat  that  was  raifed  upon  fand,  gra- 
vel, or  light  loam  ;  and  the  contrary.  Dif- 
tance  he  reckons  nothing  ;  but  his  experi- 
ments on  this  point  are  not  decifive,  as  all 
his  own  wheat  feed  comes  from  the  Vale 
of  White  Horfey  Berkfiire. 

His  preparation  of  the  feed  is,  to  fteep  it 
in  a  brine  firft  made  ftrong  enough  to  bear 
an  Qggy  and  then  with  half  as  much  more 
fait  added  :  In  this  he  fteeps  it  two  hours. 
He  finds  it  a  remedy  for  the  fmut;  as  the 
flrength  of  the  brine  throws  up  the  un- 
found  corn,  fuch  being  always  the  lighteft. 
He  diftinguiflies  the  burnt  grain  and  th$ 
fmutty  by  this ;  the  burnt  is  as  long  as  the 
common  grain,  and  black;  the  fmut  is 
black  alfo,  but  perfedly  globular,  and  puffs 
like  a  puff  ball.  After  the  fteeping  he 
dries  it  with  lime. 

He  has  more  than  once  fown  the  Skim- 
mings of  the  fteeping  quite  fmutty,  and 
had  perfcdly  found  grain  in  return  :  This 
ke  attributes  to  the  flrength  of  the  brine. 

His 


[     399     ] 

His  barley  feed  he  fhifts  from  foil  to  foil, 
in  the  fame  manner  as  wheat. 

The  culture  of  barley  here  is  excellent. 
They  plough  the  land  in  Marchy  (but  this 
iliould  be  in  Otlober,)  in  May  dung  it, 
twenty  load  to  an  acre,  twenty-eight  bufli- 
t\s  per  load.  In  June  plough  it  in.  The 
land  then  lies  till  September,  when  it  is 
ploughed  again,  and  arched  up,  and  fo  lays 
for  the  winter.  In  March  it  is  ploughed 
down,  one  half,  or  two  bufliels  per  acre  of 
feed  being  then  turned  in,  and  the  other 
half,  or  two  budiels  more,  harrowed  in  at 
top :  This  management  yields  fcven  quar- 
ters per  acre  on  an  average.  It  certainly 
is  mol];  excellent  hufbandry ;  and  the  cir- 
cumftance  of  fpreading  the  dung  on  the 
fallow,  and  mixing  it  well  with  the  foil  by 
the  fucceeding  plough ings,  preferable,  I 
apprehend,  to  laying  it  on  in  the  winter 
before  fowing,  which  alfo  depends  on  the 
coming  of  fliarp  frofts. 

Lucerne,  Mr.  Pemiy  has  cultivated,  and 
with  good  fuccefs.  He  fowed  two  acres 
in  drills  in  176 1,  twelve  inches  afundcr; 
the  foil  a  fandy  loam.  It  was  hand  hoed 
well  for  three  or  four  years,  and  afterwards 
brcafl  ploughed   twice  a  year.    The  hand 


hocinp" 


[     400     ] 

hoeing  cod  40  s,  an  acre ;  but  the  plough- 
ing only  5  J. 

Thefe  two  acres  have  kept  twelve  horfcs 
conftantly  in  the  ftable  from  the  beginning 
of  y^pn'/  to  the  end  of  September,  with 
only  a  fevcnth  part  of  the  hay  they  other- 
wife  would  have  had :  The  keeping  in  this 
manner,  Mr.  Penny,  (and  his  neighbours 
alfo,)  value  at  2/.  a  week  j  or  24^.  a  week 
for  the  two  acres.  /.     s. 

Twenty-fix  weeks  at  24  J.  3^4 

Befides  this,  his  ewes  and  lambs 
have  been  kept  on  it  a  month 
every  fpring,  twenty  at  t  d,  a 
week.  {N.  B.  It  is  worth  more 
than  this  at  fo  critical  a  feafon, 
but  our  cultivator  exaggerates 
nothing.)  ^     o 

£•  33     4 

Or,  per  acre,  16  /.  izs. 

It  is  now  in  very  good  heart,  and  having 
anfwered  fo  greatly,  Mr.  Penny  defigns 
fowing  a  larger  quantity.  The  profit  is 
very  noble,  and  proves  fufficientJy,  that 
J^ucerne  is  a  moft  capital  article  in  Britijh 
agriculture,    and   greatly   deferves    to   be 

brought 


[     401     ] 
brought  into   univerfal  ufe.     Nor  Is   the 
public  under  a  flight  obligation  to  this  ufc- 
ful  hufbandman,  for  attending  fo  much  to 
this  and  other  matters  of  the  fame  kind. 

Perfuing  the  road  to  Oxford,  I  found,  at 
Moretoriy  fomc  variations  that  deferve  mi- 
nuting. The  foil  is  chiefly  a  gravel ;  lets 
at  an  average  at  20  j.  an  acre.  Farms  rife 
from  50/.  to  500/.  a  year,  but  in  general 
are  2  or  300/. 

Their  courfes  in  the  common  fields : 

1.  Fallow 

2.  Peafe 

3.  Wheat 

4.  Barley. 
And> 

1.  Fallow 

2.  Beans 

3.  Wheat 

4.  Barley. 
In  the  inclofures, 

1 .  Break  up,  Oats 

2.  Wheat 

3.  Peafe 

4.  Wheat 

5.  Oats 

6.  Turneps 

7.  Oats  and  GralTcs. 

Vol.  III.  Dd  The 


[       402       ] 

Tlie  average  crops  are. 

Of  wheat,  three  quarters  and  a  half. 
Of  barley,  five. 
Of  oats,  five. 
Of  peafe,  two  and  a  half. 
Of  beans,  three. 
They  plough  three  times  for   turneps, 
hand  hoe  twice,  and  are   worth,    upon  a 
medium,  3 ox.  an  acre. 

Their  flocks  of  {heep  rife  from  loo  to 
1400  ',   the  profit  they  reckon  at  7  or  8i. 

In  their  tillage  they  ufe  four,  horfes  at 
length,  and  do  an  acre  a  day;  eight  or  nine 
neceiTary  for  one  hundred  acres  of  arable 
land.  Some  farmers  break  up  their  bub- 
bles for  a  fallow  before  winter,  but  moflly 
in  fpring.  The  price  of  ploughing  is  ys.  td. 
an  acre,  and  the- depth  four  or  five  inches. 

The  following  particulars  of  farms  will 
fhew  the  general  oeconomy  of  this  country, 
200  acres  in  all 
140  arable 
6  c  grafs 
/.  200  rent 
1 2  horfes 
16  cows 
4c o  flieep 
20  young  cattle 

3  men 


[     403     ] 
3  men 
2  maids 

2  boys 

3  labourers. 
Another, 

570  acres  in  all 
450  arable 
I  20  grafs 
£.530  rent 

40  horfes 

30  cows 

I  o  fatting  beafts 
20  young  cattle 

1 1 00  Hieep 
5  men 

3  boys 

4  maids 

I I  labourers. 
Another, 

460  acres  in  all 
410  arable 
50  grafs 
^.400  rent 
30  horfes, 
10  cows 
8  fatting  hearts 
900  flieep 
3  men 

P  d  2  3  boys 


[    404    ] 
3  ^s 
3  maids 
lo  labourers. 
Another, 

310  acres  in  all 
210  arable 
100  grafs 
^.320  rent 
17  horfes 
30  cows 
I  o  fatting  beads 
800  fheep 
3  men 

2  boys 

3  maids 

5  labourers. 

LABOUR, 

In  harveft,  8  s.  and  board. 
In  hay  time,  is,  6ci.  and  beer. 
In  winter,  ix 
Reaping,  5/.  to  6  j. 
Hoeing  turneps,  ^s. 
Threfhing  wheat,  4  d. 

barley  2^. 

oats,  if^. 

Firft  man's  wages,  7/.  vqs. 
Next  ditto,  5  /. 


Boy 


[     405     ] 
Boy  of  ten  or  twelve  years,  2  /.  to  2  /.  10  s. 
Dairy  maids,  4/. 
Other  ditto,   3  /. 
Women  per  day  in  harveft,  i  s. 
In  hay  time  6  J, 

PROVISIONS,   <^^. 

Bread,  i{J. 

Cheefe,  ^{J, 

Butter,  y  J. 

Beef,   31^. 

Mutton,   2^' 

Veal,    2i^. 

Pork,  4^. 

Bacon,  8  J. 

Milk,    h  per  pint. 

Potatoes,   3^^. 

Candles,  0  J, 

Soap,  6  J. 

Labourer's  houfe  rent,    30  j-.  to  40  s. 

firing,   turf,  none  bought. 

To  Chipping  Norton  and  its  neighbour- 
hood the  land  declines  much  :  It  is  chiefly 
open  fields,  and  does  not  lett  more  than  from 
5X.  to  8  J-.  an  acre.  Farms  in  general  from 
30/.  to  100/.  a  year. 

About  Enftone  land  letts  from  js.  to  1 5  x. 
Farms  chiefly  from  50  /.  to  200  /.  a  year. 
D  d  3  Ditchley, 


[     4o6     ] 

Ditchleyt  the  feat  of  the  Earl  of  Litch' 
field,  is  about  a  mile  and  half  out  of  the 
road,  and  three  miles  from  Blenheim ;  it  is 
very  well  worth  viewing.  The  front  is 
handfome,  and  the  difpoiition  of  the  apart- 
ments renders  them  very  convenient. 

The  hall  is  a  handfome  room,  thirty-fix 
feet  fquare,  the  deling  is  painted  by  Kent, 
inclofed  in  an  oval  of  fret  work ;  the  walls 
cream  coloured  ftucco,  with  lead  coloured 
and  gilt  ornaments.  The  door  cafes  finely 
carved.     In  the  pannels  are  bufts  of 

Milton, 

Socrates, 

Livy,  . 

Homer, 

Virgil, 

Cicero, 

Sappho, 

Shake/pear,   and 

Dry  den. 
bafib  relievos,    fcrolls,    feftoons,    &c.  far- 
found  them. 

The  Mufic-room  is  tv/enty-four  by  twen- 
ty-two.    Here  are,  among  fome  portal ts, 
Venetian  School.  Two  courtezans.  Great  fpi- 

rit  and  expreflion.    [N.B.  The 

fame  as  at  Kiplin,  Mr.  Croive's. 

Rubens. 


[     4^7     ] 

Rubens.  His  family.  Very  fine.  Tlie 
colours  and  Ipirit  of  the  horfe 
are  great ;  but  the  exprcflion  of 
the  wife  and  fon  nothing. 

IFotton.    Landfcape.  Not  difagreeable,  but 
this  is  not  \k\z  green  of  nature. 
The  Dining-room,  thirty-feven  by  twenty- 
two.     Here  we  find 

Holbein,  Henry  VIII.  Exceedingly  fine 
colouring  and  fpirit;  an  attitude 
bluftering  as  the  monarch. 

Vandyke.  Charles  I.  and  family.  Charles  11. 
on  his  knee.  Nobly  free,  ele- 
gant,  and  fpirited. 

Unknown.  Duke  of  Monmouth  and  his  mo- 
ther.    A  fweet  attitude. 

yonfon.  Philip  the  lid.  The  counte- 
nance expreffive  of  a  foul  dark  as 
Philip's. 

Ditto.        Sir  Henry  Lee. 

Corn.  Ketel.   Sir  Chrijiopher  Hat  ton. 

In  this  room  is  a  black  marble  flab  of  one 

piece,  nine  feet  by  four  and  a  halt. 

The  Damaflv  Bed-chamber  twenty-two 

by  twenty-one. 

Vandyke.  Admiral  Lee^ 

yonfon.     The  Queen  of  Bohemia. 

Dd4  hi 


[    4o8    ] 

In  the  Drawing-room,  twenty-four  by 
twenty-one,   the  chimney-piece  is  of  black 
and  white  marble,  handfome,   the  cornice 
fupported  by  ionic  pillars.     Here  are 
Lely,       The  CountelTes  of  Rochejier  and 

Lindefay. 
Ditto.     Sir  Francis  Harry  Lee. 
'Jonfon.  Sir  Harry  Lee. 

The  Saloon,  thirty-three  by  twenty-four. 
The  moil  flriking  article  in  this  room  is  an 
antique  ftatue  of  the  Goddefs  of  Health, 
about  two  feet  and  a  half  high ;  nothing 
can  be  more  fweetly  elegant  than  the  dra- 
pery, the  attitude,  and  the  purity  of  the 
head.  The  whole  fieure  is  in  the  chafteft 
flile  of  the  antique ;  the  body  finely  feen 
through  the  drapery. 

The  Green  Damafk  Bed-chamber,  twen- 
ty-four by  twenty-two.  The  chimney 
piece  of  white  marble,  polifhed  ;  the  frieze 
cornucopias  of  fruit,  ^c.  The  ornaments 
above  two  corinthian  pillars  gilt,  inclofing 
a  landfcape  by  Wotton,  which  is  fomewhat 
unnatural. 

Unkjio'ivn.  Two  pieces  of  ruins  and  rocks. 
Bri'^ht  and  glowing.  The  caf- 
cade  fine. 

Th^ 


[     409     ] 

The  White  Dining-room,  thirty-feveri 
by  twenty-tv/o,  highly  ornamented.  The 
cieHng  is  in  compartments  of  white  and 
gold ;  the  cornice  and  frieze  richly  executed 
in  the  fame  ;  the  pannels,  window  frames, 
and  picture  ones  of  the  fame  :  The  glafTes 
very  elegant,  and  fine  flabs  of  Sie?ia  marble. 
Here  are 
Lely,  Charles  II.     Dutchcfs  of  Clcvc^ 

land. 
Kneller.     The  prefent  Duke  of  Grafton  % 
great   grand -father,  and  Lady 
Charlotte  Fitzroy. 

From  this  room  there  is  a  palTagc  to  a 
fmail  neat  Chapel,  in  which  is  an  altar- 
piece,   a  dead  Chrijiy  a  copy  from  PouJ/in. 

The  Velvet  Bed-chamber,  twenty-four 
by  twenty-two.  The  bed  and  hangings  of 
figured  Ge}2oa  velvet.  The  chimney  piece 
of  white  marble  highly  poliflicd ;  over  it  a 
ruin,  very  plcafi ng,   by  Panini, 

The  Chmefe  Dreflmg-room,  twenty- 
four  -by  twenty-two.  It  is  completely 
fitted  up,  and  furnifhcd  in  the  tafte  of  that 
CQuntryj  richly  ornamented  with  carving 
gilt ;  Chincff  figures ;  picture  and  glafs 
frames  the  fame.  The  chim:iey-piece  o'^ 
white  marble,   polifhcd.     A  llib  of  .^gatc 

maiblc. 


[     410     ] 
marble.    The  tapeftry  is  fine.    Two  land- 
fcapes,  but  rather  brilliant  than  natural. 

The  gardens  are  difpofed  with  taile;  the 
iloping  banks  fcattered  with  wood,  and 
hanging  to  the  Terpentine  lake,  with  the 
rotunda,  finely  placed  on  a  riling  ground 
among  the  trees,  is  a  very  beautiful  land- 
fcape. 

From  hence  to  Oxford  the  country  con- 
tinues much  the  fame,  chiefly  open ;  and 
a  quarry  of  flone  near  the  furface  of  the 
whole.  As  I  fliall  not  fly  through  that 
city  quite  fo  quick  as  I  did  on  another  oc- 
cafion,.  but  fl:op  to  view  what  is  beil:  worth 
notice;  I  fhall  here  put  a  period  to  this 
long  letter. 

I  am,  &c.  , 


L  E  T- 


[      4M       ] 


LETTER     XXm. 

'T^HE  fii-rt  entertainment  vvc  reaped  at 
Oxford  was   the   viewing  the  collec- 
tion  of   pi'ilures  left    by  the  late   Gene- 
Guife  to   the  Univerfity ;   but  as   they  are 
not   yet    placed   where    they    are    to     re- 
main,   I  could  not  get  a  fight  of  all ;  mod: 
of  them,  however,   I  had  the  pleafure  of 
feeing.     Here  follows  a  catalogue. 
Viviano  and  Ricc't.  A  piece  of  architecture 
rather  large,  adorned  with  many 
fmall     figures.      By    no    means 
pleafing. 
Spag?ioktto.    Two  lieads  (carricaturas)  in 
one  piece,  fmaller  tlian  iiie.    Wcvy 
ftriking  and  horrible. 
Moriglio.    A  portrait  of  a  Spjuijb  noble^ 
man,  half  length,  after  the  life. 
Dark. 
Lhiknoiun.  Virgin  and  Child.     Admirable 
drawing.    A  fine  group,  and  ex- 
cellent attitude. 
Ti:idii.    Three  ladies.     Three  antidotes  to 


t    4iO 

Hdn,  Carrache.  A  buffoon. 
Unknown,    St.  Sebaftian, 
Nicolo  deir  Abate,    A  pidlufe  in  light  and 
fhadow,  reprefenting  Diana  and 
nymphs  in  the  bath,   changing 
Acleon  into  a  flag.    Very  fine 
and  corredt  drawing. 
L.  Carrache.    The  legs  of  a  dead  Chriji^ 
What  a  fubjed  !  But  admirably 
forefliortened. 
Guerchino,   The  prodigal  fon.     Something 
in   the  ftile  of  Bajfan;  but  of 
mod:  unmeaning  exprellion. 
Gtiido,     Holy   love   conquering  prophane 
love.      An   unmeaning   fubjedt, 
and  an  unplealing  pidture. 
Unknown,  A  woman  turning  her  head  and 
pointing  to  an  open  book.    Fine. 
^Titian.  A  head  with  part  of  the  flioulders. 

Unplealing. 
Pafqualini  Romano.  A  pidlure  with  many 
figures,  two  feet  high,  repre- 
fenting Solo?no?is  Judgment. 
Andrea  Mantegna.  Our  Saviour  on  his 
way  to  Calvary.  Ridiculous  ex- 
prefTion.  The  figure  behind  our 
Saviour  that  of  a  grinning  fool. 

Unknown. 


f  413  J 

Unknown.  The  rape  of  the  SahJncs,  A 
ftrange  confufion  of  figures. 

pominichino.  St.  Jerome  praying.  A  fine 
figure  3  colours  llrong. 

Va?idyke.  A  fmall  fketch  in  Hght  and  lliadc, 
with  many  figures,  rcprcfcnting 
a  faint  ready  to  fufrcr  martyr- 
dom.    A  nothing. 

Ann'ib.  Carrache,  A  fmall  oftagonal  pic- 
ture on  a  black  flone,  reprefcnt- 
ing  our  Saviour  carried  to  the 
fepulchre.  A  Arange  group. 
Nothing  pleafing. 

J'intoret,  St. L^z/r^^-wr^'s martyrdom.  Strong- 
ly grouped,  but  in  a  dark  ihle. 

Ang.  and  Gobho  Carrache.  Martyrdom  of 
St.  Peter.     Very  unpleafing. 

Poujin.  A  large  piece  of  architcdure,  with 
figures.     Faded  and  unpleafing. 

J^ourgognone.  A  battle.  Dark  and  very 
indifiind:,  but  fpirited. 

Ricci.  Apoilo  and  Marfyas.  Very  un- 
pleafing :  The  colours  dark,  but 
exprefiion  ftrong. 

L.  Carrache.  Our  Saviour  known  by  the 
two  difciples  in  breaking  the 
]3read.       Mere   poverty   ol:    cx- 

prciTion^ 


[     414     ] 
preflion ;    and   a  formal  groups 
but  the  colours  ftrong. 
Dominic hino.     Sophonijha   dying   of    grief. 
No  brilliancy,   but  the   attitude 
and  expreffion  good. 
Guido.  Flight  into  /Egypt.  Very  fine  :  The 
attitudes  and   expreffion   good ; 
but  no  brilliancy. 
Andrea  Sacchi.   The  heads  of  St.  Andrew 
and  St.  Paul.    Strong  exprefiion. 
Leonardo  da  Vinci.     St.  Elizabeth  with  St. 
yobn  when  a  babe,  mufing  on  a 
crofs  made  of  reeds.     Exceeding 
natural  and  fine :    The  boy  in- 
comparable. 
Sahiati.    'judith  holding  Holofer?ies'  head. 
Very  fine :    Strong   colours   and 
expreffion. 
Z).  da  Volterra.     The    defcent    from    the 
crofs.    Great  variety  and  ftrength 
of  expreffion;    but  the  colours 
gone. 
Riihens.   Medufas  head.    Very  fpirited  and 

flriking  expreffion. 
Ani.  Carrache.   A  holy  family;  the  figures 
one  foot  high.     Very  fine;    the 
attitudes  and  colours  fpirited. 

Cor- 


[     415     ] 

Correggio.  Our  Saviour  crowned  with 
thorns.  The  figures  a  foot  and 
an  half  high.  Very  fine.  Co- 
lourjng  of  a  hvely  brilliancy  : 
The  lights  ftrong  but  unnatu- 
rally diffufcd. 

Imola.  The  laft  fupper.  Well  grouped, 
but  nothing  in  it  ftriking. 

Aiiib.  Carrache.  A  boy's  head,  as  lar^^e  as 
hfe.     Lively. 

G.  de  Carrache.  A  landfcape  ;  a  hare  hunt- 
ing.    A  nothing. 

B.  da  Garofola.  St.  Cathari?ie,  a  foot  and 
a  half  high.  A  formal  figure  in 
the  flile  of  Albert  Durer. 

Gidjeppe  d' Arpino.  Adam  and  TLve  driven 
out  ol  Paradife.  Prodigious  fine 
attitudes.  E've^  naked  body 
very  beautiful.     The   colouring 


good. 


TjConardo  da  Vinci.  The  head  of  a  woman 
fmiling.     Lively. 

Bartohmeo.  A  child's  head,  fmaller  than 
the  life.     Ditto. 

Correggio.  The  pale  of  an  altar,  with  fi- 
gures larger  than  the  life.  Vail: 
expreiiion  in  the  old  man  ;  the 
plaits  of  the  flefli  fine,   and  the 

colours 


[    4i6     ] 
colours  noble;  but  the  general 
brilliancy  gone.     The  figure   of 
a  woman  to  the  right  mod  un- 
meaning. 
Ann.  Carrache.    The  family  of  the  Car- 
rach\  reprefented  in  a  butcher's 
ihop,  and  thofe  celebrated  paint- 
ers in  butchers  dreiTes.     Anni' 
bal  is  weighing  fome  meat  to  a 
^ivifs  of  the  Cardinal  o{  Bolognas 
guard.     Augiifilne  is  fhaking   a 
nail,  and  trying  if  it  holds  faft, 
that  he  may  hang  on  it  a  leg  of 
mutton,  which   he  holds  in  his 
left  hand.     Gobbo  is  lifting  up  a 
calf  to  hang  it  on  a  beam,  and 
Ludovico  lloops  down  killing  a 
fheep.  The  mother  of  them  is  re- 
preiented  as  a  fervant  maid  that 
comiCs  to  buy  fome  meat.      The 
likenelTes    are   traditionally   faid 
to  be  wonderful. — This,  furely, 
j&  the  mod:   ftriking  inllance  of 
an  odd  and  grotefque  tafte ;  to 
tranfmit  ones  felf  to  poilerity  in 
the  mod  odious  of  common  cha- 
radlers.     Alexander  was  follici- 
icus  to  have  the   beauty  of  his 

perfoo 


[    417    ] 

perfon  tranfmitted  to  future 
times,  in  the  works  of  the  bell 
artifts ;  what  would  he  ha\c 
thought  of  a  painter  that  threw 
him  into  the  attitude  of  killing  a 
fheep  ?  Here  is,  however,  great 
ftrength  and  variety  of  exprellion 
in  this  phantaftic  pidlure. 

Do?mnichino.  A  landfcape.  Dark  and  un- 
pleafmg,  but  the  attitudes  of 
the  figures  are  very  fpirited. 

Furino.  A  woman  reprefenting  Simpli- 
city, with  a  dove  in  her  hand* 
Dark ;   nothing  pleafing. 

Badalocchl.  The  Good  Samaritan.  Wry 
ftrong  and  fpirited  drawing,  well 
fore-fhortened;  colours  gone. 

Rkcu  Our  Lady  with  her  Babe  ;  the 

figures  about  two  feet  high.  A 
very  fine  attitude;  the  child  as 
fpirited  as  the  fubject  will  admit. 
The  colouring  was  good,  but 
almoft  gone. 

Raphael,  A  youth's  head  fmaller  than  the 
life.     Very  formal. 

Titian,  The  Nativity.  The  colouring  of 

this  pidlure  is  exceedingly  fine. 

The  pofture  of  the  virgin  incom- 

VoL.  III.  E    e  parable^ 


[    4>8    ] 

parable,  and  the  expreflion  of 
the  other  figures  great.  The 
grouping  excellent,  and  the  light 
ilrongly  and  fpiritedly  diffufed 
from  the  child. 
Ditto*  Another  Nativity.   Unpleafing 

colours.  Aflrangegroup;  and  the 
expreffion  of  the  old  fellow  over 
the  child  quite  vulgar. 
Anni.  Carrache.   Our  Lady  with  her  Babe 
in  her  arms,  near  as  large  as  life, 
ftanding    on  clouds.     The  atti^ 
tudc  of  the  virgin  very  fine;  and 
the  expreffion  of  her  countenance 
fweetly  amiable;   the  child  fine, 
and  the  whole  group  piclurefque. 
Aug,  Carrache,   Sufannah  and  the  Elders. 
Not  pleafing ;  |ier  naked  body  is, 
however,  thrown  into  a  flriking 
light,    and    very    well    drawn. 
The  attitude  of  the  old  fellow 
very  fpirited,  the  drapery  go(3d, 
and  the  lights  ftrong. 
Cavedone.     The  Nativity.    This  pi(5lure  is 
alfo  attributed  to  Zitccarelli.  The 
briHiancy   is    in    his  ftile,    and 
pleading.     The    attitude    of  the 
fhepherd  kneeling,  with  the  flaff 

in 


[    419     ] 

in  his  hand,  is  good;  alfo  that  of 
the  old  man  in  the  fofc-ground. 
The  little  angels  are  executed  in 
a  lively  manner.  But  there  is  a 
dimnefs  of  (liade  over  the  whole 
piece,  as  if  unfiniHied  or  da- 
maged. 

Aug.  Carrache.  Head  of  our  Saviour. 
Strong  expreflion. 

Schidone.  Our  Lady  and  her  Babe.  A 
fweet  little  group,  in  a  good 
tafte  and  fpirit. 

Baffan.  Chrijl  laid  in  the  Sepulchre. 
Very  capital  expreffion  of  the 
exa(^  kind;  it  is  almod:  as  mi- 
nute as  Albert  Durcr^  efpe- 
cially  that  of  the  dead  body. 

Barocci.  Chrijl  flievvn  to  the  people  by 
Pilate.  Very  fine.  The  group, 
attitudes,  and  colours  pleafing. 

Perugino.  Chriji  appearing  to  Maiy  Mag- 
dalen.  CbriJFs  expreffion  that 
of  a  clown,  and  her's  no  better. 
The  drapery,  landfcapc,  and  co- 
lours,  equally  bad. 

Raphael.       The  infant  Jefus  and  St.  John 
embracing.  Spirited.  The  coun- 
tenance of  him  to  the  left  good. 
E   e   2  Ditto, 


[       420       ] 

Ditto.  Three  heads  in  water  colours. 

In   a   ftrong   expreffive    ftile    of 
drawing ;    but  unpleafing. 

Car  facto.  St.  Catharine.  The  attitude  na- 
tural ;  but  the  drapery  in  a  bad 
tafle,  and  the  colours  faint. 

Andrea  del  Sarto.  Our  Lady  with  her  Babe, 
and  St.  yohn:  Her  attitude  fine, 
and  her  countenance  exquilite: 
The  boy  fplrited. 

Holbein.  A  father  and  his  two  children 
praying.     A  nothing. 

Raphael.  The  Nativity,  containing  eigh- 
teen figures,  two  feet  high.  Her 
pofture  neither  natural  or  grace- 
ful ;  and  the  colours  are  difa- 
greeable  :  The  group  is  pretty 
good,  and  the  figure  of  the  old 
man  fitting  a  fine  one.  It  is  the 
mere  rubbifh  of  names  to  call 
this  an  "  aftonifhing  perform- 
ance." 

Paul  Feroneje,  Our  Lady  with  her  Babe, 
St.  Catharine^  and  St.  Francis. 
Very  fine  and  fpirited  attitudes; 
a  pleafing  group,  but  the  co- 
lours nothing.  The  attention  of 
the  old  man  good. 

Andrea 


[      421       ] 

Andrea  del  Sarto.  Chriji  coming  out  of 
the  Temple. 

*'  Group  nods  at  group,  each  figure  has  its  brother, 
"  And  half  the  pidure  jufl:  reflcds  the  other.'* 

T)07Jiinichino,  A  Mlftrefs  and  her  Maid. 
A  nothing.  But  it  is  called  one 
of  the  beft  works  of  this  great 
mafter. 

Parmegiano.  Our  Lady  with  her  Babe. 
Exceedingly  fine,  graceful,  and 
pleafing  -,  the  colours  brilliant, 
and  the  head  of  the  old  man  in 
a  great  ftile. 

Dominichijio.  Cupid  drawn  by  two  doves  j 
fpirited,  and  fomewhat  pleafing. 

Caj-lo  Cignani.  A  copy  oiCorreggids  Night, 
The  lights  flrong  and  fpirited. 
The  figure  in  obfcura,  leaning 
on  a  fpear,  forms  a  fine  attitude. 
The  group  good. 

'Tintoret.  Diana  in  the  bath,  changing 
ASteon  into  a  ftag.  Very  fine 
drawing:  of  the  naked.     Several 


„     nf    flip  n: 

of  the  fi^rares  are  beautiful,  and 


the  attitudes  fpirited. 
Tintoret.     The  communion  of  the  Apoftles. 
Very  dark,  and  the  lights  ftrong- 
E  e  3  ly 


[      422      ] 

ly  and  partially  thrown,  but  the 
attitudes  have  fpirit. 
Gob.  Carrache.  St.  'John  preaching  in  the 
defert.  The  landfcape  rich  and 
fine,  and  the  attitudes  of  the 
figures  nobly  fpirited. 
Salvator  Rofa.  EriBhonius  delivered  to  the 
Nymphs  for  education.  Great 
fpirit  in  the  attitudes  j  but  it 
hangs  in  fo  bad  a  light  that  one 
can  fee  but  httle  of  it. 

Dominiehino.  Mofes  delivering  the  daugh- 
ters from  the  fnares  of  the  fhep- 
herds.  The  poftures  and  atten- 
tion of  the  figures  fine.  The 
landfcape  good. 

Ditto.  A  landfcape.    Some  fifhermen  ,• 

and  women  wafhing  linnen. 
Very  dark  j  the  lights  par- 
tially and  ftrangely  thrown. 

Fernandas.  A  youth  playing  on  the  guit- 
tar.  Great  expreflion  of  atten- 
tion. 

Titian.  Chrifi  tempted  in  the  Defert. 

An  infipid  figure,  and  the  colours 
quite  gone. 

Dominic bico.  Two  Cherubs.    Nothing. 

Guer- 


C  423  ] 

Guerchino.  A  St.  Jo/j/Zs  head,  with  a 
lamb.  Very  dark,  but  has  fome 
fpirit. 

Schiavone.  Marfyaa  and  Apollo^  with  M/- 
^i:z/.     Very  unplealing. 

Unhio'wn.   Cleopatra.    Fine  and  fpirited. 

Anni.  Carrache.   Copy  of  Corregios  Cupid. 
The  drawing,   fpirit,   and  relief 
of  the  figure  fine. 

Ditto,  The  laying  in  the  Sepulchre ; 

an  odtogon  picture;  flrongly  ex- 
prefiive. 

J^itto.  St.  Francis  in  a  vifion.   Won- 

derfully fine  i  exceedingly  fpi- 
rited, lively,  and  brilliant.  The 
attitudes  are  furprizingly  great ; 
and  the  life  in  every  figure  ftrik- 
ing.  The  relief  of  the  right 
hand  very  ftrong. 
Gab.  de  Carrache.  A  landfcape ;  tlie  wa- 
terfalls good ;  and  the  trees 
natural. 
'Titian.  A  Venus  and  Ciipidy  as  large  as 

life.  Aftonifhingly  fine.  The 
whole  body  moll:  exquifitely 
painted:  —  The  attitude  ealy, 
graceful,  and  amazingly  pleai- 
E  e  4  in^^ 


[  iH  J 
ing.  The  roundnefs  and  turn  of 
the  Innbs  in  the  relief  of  life 
itfelf;  the  turn  of  the  head  and 
peck  elegantly  graceful.  The 
face  v/onderfully  beautiful;  the 
colouring  very  fine;  and,  in  a 
word,  the  whole  figure  exqui- 
fitely  beautiful  and  enticing. 

Ditto,  Portrait  of  the  woman  that  was 

his  model  for  the  famous  Venus 
at  Fiorefice.     Very  beautiful. 

Gutdo.  A  choir  of  Angels.  A  nothing. 

P.  da  Certona,  Sketch  of  a  cieling. 
A  ditto. 

Ijud,  Carrache.  A  half  length  as  large  as 
life.  Very  fine,  lively,  and  Ipi- 
rited. 

Giorgione.  Half  length  of  a  woman  as  large 
as  life.     Very  difagreeable. 

Titian.  Our  Lady  with  her  Babe  and 

St.  Johi.    Very  fine  attitude  and 
drapery. 

Giddo.  Dying  Magdalen  and  Cherubs. 

Incomparably  fine  in  exprefiion 
and  colouring. 

yulio  Romano.  An  Emperor  on  horfeback. 
Very  firong  and  foirited. 

Vandyke, 


[     425     ] 

Vandyke.  King  Charles  the  Firft's  white 
horfe.     Very  lively. 

Borgognone.  The  Slaughter  of  the  Inno- 
cents. V/iid,  but  Ipiritcdi  the 
colours  gone. 

Florentine  SchooJ.  Conjlantine.  There  are 
many  figures  in  this  piece,  and 
fpirited. 

Unknown.  A  fmall  piece  containing  feveral 
figures,  a  group  among  rocks. 
Moft  fpiritedly  touched.  The 
lights,  drapery,  and  attitudes, 
great ;  fomething  like  Sahator. 
Two  figures,  one  of  them  fill- 
ing.    Spirited. 

A  Mafter  and  his  Scholar.  Ex- 
ceeding fine.  The  airs  of  the 
heads  great,  and  the  colouring 
fine.  A  little  in  the  ftile  of 
Rembrandt, 

Diana.  An  unfiniflied  fketch  ; 
the  drawing  of  the  naked  figures 
fine. 

»S///i««j^  and  the  Elders;  fmall. 
Her  figure  good,  but  the  cx- 
prefiion  of  her  countenance 
foolifli. 

Diito. 


Ditto. 
Ditto. 


Ditto. 


Ditto. 


[    426    ] 

Ditto.  A  woman  bathing,  and  a  man 

flealing  her  cloaths.     Her  figure 
well  done. 

Ditto,  A  holyFamily  j  a  fmall  drawing. 

Exceeding  fine  attitudes  and  ex- 
preffion. 

Ditto.  The  Adoration  of  theShepherds; 

a  drawing.     Exceedingly  fine. 

Ditto,  A   Nativity;    the  Deity  in  the 

clouds.     The  light  on  the  Vir-» 
gin's  countenance  good. 

Ditto.  A   Virgin   and  Child;    fmall. 

Good  colouring  and  attitude. 

Corregio.        Cbriji  crowned  with  thorns. 
Very  fine. 

Michael Angello  delle  BattagUe.  Two  fmall 
pieces,  the  one  reprefenting  a 
mountebank  drawing  a  tooth ; 
the  other  many  people  playing  at 
bowls.  Good.  The  mounte- 
bank one,  well  coloured. 
*  *  4^  *  * 
In  the  Hall  of  Chri/s- church,  among 

many  others,   the  following  portraits  will 

flrike  you  mofc. 

Morley,  Bifliop  of  W inch  eft  cr    Good. 
'Trevor y  Bifliop  of  Durham.    By  Hudf.,u 
Very  fine  drapery.  Robinfon. 


[     427     ] 
Robinfon,    Primate    of    Ireland,      Very 

ipirited. 
In  an  old  Chapter-houfe,  two  portraits, 

very     expreflive     and     fpirited. 

They  are  thought  to  be  Frede^ 

ricki  Duke  o^ Saxony y  and  Philip, 

Archduke  of  Aujiria. 
The  Radcliffhihvivy  is  a  beautiful  build- 
ing: The  ruftics,  the  double  corinthian 
pillars,  the  cornice,  and  balluftrade  ;  all 
unite  to  form  one  complete  whole,  admira- 
bly proportioned,  and  of  the  happicH:  unity 
of  effect  i  and  this  without  any  termina- 
tion :  The  conclufion  in  the  ballulbade 
would  have  been  one  of  a  mofi:  elegant  fim- 
plicity;  —  but  the  dome  rather  hurts  the 
general  efFedt:  beiides,  it  is  not  equally 
beautiful  with  the  reft  of  the  building ;  its 
being  ribbed  too  much  divides  the  attention 
of  the  fpedtator,  and  the  pediments  around, 
which  fupport  the  urns,  are  heavy. 

The  infide  is  a  circular  domed  room,  of 
forty-eight  feet  diameter,  and  iixiy  high. 
The  dome,  the  upper  and  lower  cornices, 
and  the  furrounding  arches,  are  light  and 
elegant,  but  the  crofs  work  of  compart- 
ments fomewhat  break  the  effeift;  nor  are 
the  ionic  pillars  at  bottom  well  propor- 
tioned 


[    428     ] 

tioned  to  the  room ;  they  are  too  fmall,  and 
without  efFedl. 

*(?  ^'S"  *'T»  ^  /fv 

In  the  Pidure-Gallery  are  many  pieces 
that  are  very  capital.   Thofe  which  pleafed 
me  mod  are  the  following. 
Holbein,         Sir  Thomas  Bodley.    Very  fine. 
Unknown,      King  Alfred,     Good. 

William  of  Wick  ham.     Very 
fpirlted. 

William  Wainfleef,   Bifhop   of 
Winchejler.     Good. 
Holbein.         Sir  Thomas  Pope.  A  moft  noble 
portrait;    the    face    and    hands 
admirable,  and  the  drapery  good. 
Unknown.     Henry  IV.  o^  France  on  horfe- 
back.     Lively  and  fpirited. 
Richard  Wightwick.     Fine. 
A  ftatue  of  Williamy    Earl  of  Pembroke, 

A  very  noble  and  fpirited  attitude. 
Ditto  of  the  Venus  de  Medicis.    Pleafing. 
Apollo. 

Duke  of  Marlborough. 
Bufts. 

Tully, 

Arijiides. 

Zeno. 

Phocion. 

Vandyke, 


[     429     ] 
Vandyke,        Francifcus  'Junius  -,  a  fketch  : 
Exceedingly  fine,  free,  and  fpi- 
rited. 

Kneller.         Lord  Crew,  Blfhop  oWurham. 
Good. 

Unknown.      Martin  Luther,  A  true  pole- 
mical countenance. 

Lely.  Sir  Jofeph,     Free  and  eafy, 

Williams.       Dr.  King.     Spirited. 

Richard/on.   Prior.    Exceeding  good. 

Gib/on.  Locke,     Good. 

Spagnoletti.  Duns  Scotus.  Wonderfully 
fpirited. 

Unknown.       Sh'Ric/jardTomlins.Yery  good. 
Tyc/jo  Brahe.  Ditto. 

Gibfon.  Dr.  Flamjiead.    Spirited. 

Sebajiian  Bourdon.  God's  covenant  with 
Noab.  Difagreeable  colouring, 
and  a  ftrange  group. 

Sshalcken.  The  feven  Vices  on  copper; 
Pride,  Lufl:,  Sloth,  Drunkennefs, 
Revenge,  Avarice,  and  Envy. 
Exceedingly  ftrong  and  fpirited. 

yordaens.  Chrijl's  appearance  to  his  Difci- 
plcs  after  his  refurredion.  Very 
fine. 

Ramfay. 


[    43^    ] 

Ram/ay.  His  prefent  Majefty.  Excellent 
drapery,  and  a  very  pleafing  at- 
titude. 

Unknown.      Fruit  piece.     Good. 

A  mathematical  piece.   Fine. 

Fra?ik  Hail.  A  Dutch  gardener.  Very 
fpirited. 

Willarts.  A  florm.  Strong  and  minute 
exprefiion.     Very  fine. 

Jordaens.  Mofes{in\i\ng\htKock.  Won- 
derfully fine.  The  back  of  the 
figure  to  the  left  noble. — The 
child  with  it's  finger  in  the 
mouth  great;  but  the  group- 
ing ftrange  -,  and  Mofes  totally  de- 
void of  exprefiion. 

Willarts,  A  Butch  fifh- market.  Amaz- 
ingly fine.  The  figures  are  nu- 
merous, and  the  fini£hing  very 

XJfiknown.      St.  Paul.     Good. 

Bar  dwell.  Thomas  Fermor,  Earl  ol  Pom- 
fret,  and  his  wife :  A  capital 
piece  of  vulgarity. 

Kneller.         Addifon.     Good. 

Unknown.      Chaucer,    Good.     Minute  fi- 


nifliing. 


Vandyke. 


[     431     ] 

Vandyke.        Tlie  great  Earl  of  Ztrajford. 
Middling  i    but  the  exprciiioii  is 
not  weak. 
Schroder.       Charles  XII.   A  noble  pivflure. 

Great  ftrcngth  and  fpirit. 
Unknown.     The  late  King  oiPniJfid,  The 
figure  of  a  vulgar  clown. 

Sir  Hejiry  Saviiie.  The  h  ands 
and  face  exceedingly  fine  ;  and 
the  minute  imitation  of  the  mat 
aflonifliing. 

Van  Trump,      Very  good  and 
fpirited  ;   the  attitude  excellent. 
Kneller.         Dr.   Wallis.     The  hands  and 

face  incomparably  fine. 
Vandyke,        Sir  Kenelm  Digby.  Exceeding 

fine. 
Unknown,      The  Earl  of  Kildare,     Good. 
The  Earl  oi  Pembroke.    Very 
fine. 

Archbi(hop  Cranmer.    Good. 
Sir  Thomas  Sackvillc.    Earl  of 
Dorfet.    Very  fine. 

Lady  Betty  Paulett.     Grsat 
finifhing. 

Among  the  Pomfret  Statues,  the  follow- 
ing I  remarked  particularJy : 

Statue 


[    432     ] 

Statue  of  a  Grecian  Lady.    A  hugeous 

piece  of  immenlity. 
Ditto  oi  Archimedes,     Fine. 
Ditto  oi Minerva.  The  left  thigh  and  leg 
feen  finely  through  the  drapery. 
Ditto  of  Cicero.    Drapery  very  fine  ;  the 
head  fpirited,  but  the  attitude  of 
the  right  arm  mean. 
Statue  of  a  Grecian  Lady.     Very  fine. 
Ditto  of  Sabina.     Attitude  and  fold  of 
the   right   arm   fine ;     but   the 
drapery  fomewhat  ftiff. 
A  Venus  de  Medicis.   The  neck  and  right 
arm  admirable  ;  alfo  the  antique 
part  of  the  left.     All  that  is  an- 
tique of  this  ftatue  is  fine. 
Statue    of  Minerva.      Drapery    good; 
"finely  tucked  under  the  left  arm. 
A  Venus  cloathed,   Exquifite ;  the  wet 
drapery  difplays  the  naked  thro' 
it  in  a  very  fine  ftile.    The  form 
of  her  body  admirable. 
Statue  of  Clio  fitting.    Turn  of  the  head 
and  neck  fine  -,  and  the  attitude 
good. 
Statue  of   a  young   Dacian :    Perhaps 
Paris.     It  is  of'  great  antiquity. 
Drapery  good. 

Statue 


I    433     ] 

Statue  of  Antinous,     Difproportion   it- 
felf,  but  owing,  I  fuppofc,  to  the 
joinings,    or  dcfigned  for  an  ele- 
vated fituation. 
A  Grecian  Lady.     The  difplay   of  the 
left  thigh  and  leg  through  the 
drapery  fine. 
Statue  of  Jupiter  and  Leda.    Much  de- 
faced; but    the  left  leg  is  well 
feen  through   the  drapery,    and 
the  turn    of  her  right  thigh  is 
good  i   likewife  the  remains  of  a 
fine  attitude. 
Statue   of   Scipio    Africanus.      Drapery 
bold,    and    the    pofture    of  \\\^ 
hand  and  arm  fine. 
A  trunk  of  a  woman.     Good. 
A  boy  with  his   finger  in  his  mouth. 

A  nothing. 
Statue  of  Jupiter  fitting.    Heavy. 
Ditto    of    a    woman.      Her    form   iatw 

through  the  drapery  is  good. 
The    trunk   of  a   v/oman.     The    right 
thigh  and  leg  is  pretty  well  feen 
through  the  drapery. 
Germanicuss  tomb.      Spirited  reliefs. 
Statue  of  a  Roman  Conful.     The  poflure 

of  the  right  arm  unnatural. 
Vol.  III.  F  f  Ditto 


[     434     ] 

Ditto  of  a  womari.     Good. 

Ditto  of  P/;r J.  A  b<^amiful  figure  ar.d 
drapery. 

Ditto  of  Hirciles.     Indi5erent. 

Hymen.     The  attitude  nne. 

Starue  of  Veyiiii  half  naked.  Her  body 
very  £ne  j  the  draper}^  llipping 
oit  it,  and  the  turn  of  her  left 
thigh  and  leg  itriking. 

Statue  oi Melpomene  litting.  A  ver\'  ex- 
preilive  attitude,  fine  arm,  and 
noble  draper}'. 

A  Grecizn  Lady.     Bad  draperv. 

Statue  of  Camilla.     Li^ht  draoenr. 

Ditto  cf  a  Grecian  Philofopher.  Mid- 
dling. 

Statue  of  Cai'uj  Mariiis.  Very  fine 
expreiHon  j  and  the  pofture  of 
the  right  hand  and  arm  very 
natural. 

Ditto  cf  Bacchus  naked.  The  turn  of 
the  body  incomparable  ;  the  at- 
titude and  ipirit  of  the  fgure 
noble;  alive. 

Statue  oi'julia.     DifgufHng. 

The  trunk  of  a  woman  litting.  Re- 
mains of  a  good  ftatue,  but  fadly 
defaced. 

A  naked 


[    435     j 
A  naked  trank  cf  a  mm.     Ver.-  _ ,  _  ^  , 

the  back  excellent. 
A  trunk  of  a  woman.     Middiiae. 
Statue  -zjtHercuhs  choakin?  a  rrv 

great  exp-ciTion ,-     '  :  cf 

the  thi^h  a.22.:nir  L._        -,      -^ir- 
tne  whole  nae. 
Trjnk  of  a  woman  fitting.     Qyzd. 
Bcjs  embracing.     Ditto. 
Bul>  cf  2  y:  in.     Dir.:*. 

Ditto  of  a  Z  Dirro. 

Ditto  of  a  1:1: :her.     Ditto. 

Ditto  of  ^7^^.^.    Turn  cf  the  hei: 
Dino  of  Femis  di  Medici:.     C 
In   the   Repofitory    of  the   .. 
Marbles,  is  at  Drefent  a  Imi"  . 
Bronzes,  ctj.  lately  left  to  the  , —  ..:„:^.  , 
the  fcllcvrL-r  ;r?  the  principal : 

;;     \         •.    Good 

Noah. 
Mojes. 
Socrjtes. 

Kin^  Ds-jiJ.     Good  drapery. 


D.::. 


F  :"  z 


[    436    ] 

A  boar. 

Tlato. 

David  and  Goliah, 

Duke  of  Marlborough ^ 

Hercules  and  Antceus. 

Hercules  and  Hydra, 

Venus.    Good. 

The  torturing  of  a  Bifhop  in  the  In- 
quifition.      A  curious  ftroke. 

Venus  in  drapery.     Fine  haunches. 

Apollo. 

A  Sibyl. 

Cupid  on  a  dolphin. 

Hercules  and  Centaur. 

A  dragon. 

A  Ccefaf^  head  in  clay.     Good. 

Sir  Ifaac  Newton* 

Miltiades,  A  relief  in  ilone :  Very 
antique. 
You  will  obfervc,  that  I  have  given  them 
as  they  ftnnd,  but  in  ilrange  confufion,  of 
Mofes  and  Socrates,  King  Da'vid  and  Plato, 
&c.  I  fhould  not  have  inferted  this  laft, 
had  .'T.ny  other  been  extant  for  the  ufe  of 
ipedators ;  for  the  colledtion  is  but  fo,  fo. 

In   the  Bodleian  Library,   among  many 
other  pidiures,  I  remarked  thefe  : 

Mr. 


[     437    ] 

Mr.  Bowles.  The  beft  among  the  libra- 
rians. 

Sir  Kench:  Digby.     Good. 

Sir  Thomas  More;  by  his  niece.  Very 
good. 

Erafftmsy  by  Holbein.     Exceeding  fine. 

The  Queen  oi Bohemia.  Very  Hvely  and 
fpirited. 

Before  I  return  again  to  Agriculture,  you 
will  allow  me  to  conclude,  by  alluring  you 


A  P  P  E  N- 


[     43S     j 

APPENDIX    to    VOL.  lil. 

Description  ^^?  Machine 
to  Slice  T  u  R  N  E  P  s,  for  feeding  Neat 
Cattky  ^c. 

Invented   by   C  u  t  h  e  e  r  t    Clarke,    of 
Belford^  Northumberhnd. 

PLATE       XII. 

FIGURE  I.  is  the  perfpe^live  of  the  whole 
machine,  which  is  about  four  feet  fix  inches 
high,  two  feet  fix  inches  long,  and  two  feet  v/ide  out- 
fide  meafuie  ;  it  is  made  of  common  deal,  three  quar- 
ters of  an  inch  thick,  and  its  four  pofts  are  of  oak, 
about  four  inches  fquare;  the  iztx.^  handles  fiiding 
frame,  crofs  bars,  C5V.  are  ah'o  of  oak :  The  whole 
machine  can  be  afforded  complete  for  ll.  is.  which 
will,  with  two  men,  flice  three  tons  of  turncps,  into 
ilices  of  three  quarters  of  an  inch  thick,  in  one  hour: 
It  is  ajfo  portable,  and  may,  by  the  two  men  who 
work  it,  be  moved  from  one  houfe  or  field  to  another, 
borne  by  two  liandles  like  a  fedan  chair.  A.  A.  the 
hopper,  or  trunk  of  the  machine,  which  is  angular 
within,  fiiited  to  the  angle  the  knife,  when  placed  in 
it's  frame,  n^:-  2.  d.  A.  d.  makes  with  the  fides 
thereof.  B.  B.  B.  B.  the  frame  which  Aides  to  and 
fro  upon  two  rollers,  D.  D.  which  greatly  abate  the 
friction.  E.  E.  two  firong  leather  ft.'-ops,  which  ftcp 
the  fiider  at  each  end  alternately ;  one  end  of  each  of 
tKofe  llrops  is  faftencd  to  the  crofs  bars,  F.  F.  and 
the  other  ends  to  the  rounds,  B.  B.  B.  B.  Fig.  2.  irt 
the  notches,  C.  C.  with  a  buckle,  and  may  be  taken 
up  or  let  out  occafionally.  C.  C.  in  fig.  i.  are  the 
two  handles  for  carrying  it  by  from  place  to  place. 
G.  G.  Feet  morticed  upon  the  fcur  pofts,   which  fe- 

cure 


[     439     ] 

cure  it  from  falling.  H.  H.  Two  crofs  bars  between 
thofe  feet.  Fig.  3.  the  knife,  with  two  edges,  which 
being  turned  with  its  claws,  b.  b.  t^c.  at  right  angles 
to  its  own  plane,  is  put  into  the  mortices,  d.  d.  Iii" 
fig.  2.  the  fcrew-pins,  with  the  hand  nuts,  C.  C. 
tighten  it  in  the  frame  ;  and  fig.  4.  which  reprcfents 
a  collar  of  iron,  about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  thick,  of 
which  there  are  about  eight  in  number  for  the  two 
claws  ;  their  ufes  are  to  put  between  the  fhouldcrs  of 
the  knife,  and  the  upper  fries  of  the  frame,  and  are  put 
in  number,  as  the  edge  of  the  knife  is  required  to  be 
raifed  above  the  floor  of  the  Aider,  in  order  to  fize  the 
flice,  /'.  e.  they  are  put  on  the  upper  fide  of  the  frame 
to  make  the  flice  thick,  and  removed  from  that 
fide,  and  put  between  the  hand-nuts  and  underhdes  of 
the  frame,  when  the  flice  is  to  be  thinner,  in  propor- 
tion thereto.  The  flice  is  cut  exaitly  as  a  carpenter's 
inftrument,  called  a  fpook-fhave,  ^c.  takes  its  {hav- 
ing, only  the  turnep-knife  cuts  both  backwards  and 
forwards.  There  is  alfo  a  contrivance  for  cleaning 
■  the  eye  of  the  frame,  A.  fig.  2.  when  liie  knife  is 
placed  upon  it,  viz.  when  the  Aider  is  pulled,  ^\-.  as 
much  to  one  end  as  the  ftrop  will  admit,  there  is  a 
piece  of  hard  wood,  nailed  upon  a  crofs  bar,  at  I. 
fig.  I.  which  projects  about  an  inch  towards  the  infide 
of  the  machine,  and  is  fo  thin  as  to  ram  in  below  the 
edge  of  the  knife,  whatever  flice  it  is  fet  to  form,  f:.r 
it  is  not  fo  thick  as  the  leafl  Jlice  the  inftrument  con  make, 
viz.  half  an  inch.,  and  thereby  clears  the  eye  ;  at  eacii 
end  there  is  the  faaie  contrivance,  which  effectually 
prevents  any  interruption  in  the  cuttin'j;.  The  way  tp 
ufe  the  machine  is  very  cafy  and  natural  j  for  as  foon  as 
the  hopper  is  idled  at  random,  by  throwing  up  a  ban<et 
full  at  a  time,  two  men  iet  themiclvcs  down  on  ftools, 
is'e.  placed  conveniently,  and  put  out  their  feet  againll 
the  ports  of  the  machine,  then  take  the  rounds  in 
their  hands,  about  the  places  marked  ]^.  B.  B.  B.  in 
fig.  2.  and  fo  pull  the  frame  backwards  and  forwards 
as  abovefaid  ;  and,  from  their  pofition  of  body,  they 
have  great  power,  the  extenfors  of  the  legs,  thighs, 
back,  and  arms,  being  mutually  employed  in  che  fame 
advantageous  manner  as  ini-ovving  a  bo:;',  i^c.     The 

knife. 


r  440  ] 

knife,  at  every  pufh,  &c.  pafTes  quite  thro'  the  hoppef 
into  a  cavity  in  the  end,  where  no  turneps  can  enter, 
becaufe  it  is  not  above  two  inches  high,  and  exa6Hv 
as  wide  as  the  knife  is  broad  ;  indeed,  if  the  turnep  is 
fo  fmall  as  to  go  into  thefe  dimenfions,  it  will  be  driven 
in  undoubtedly,  but  will  be  fliced  by  the  knife  aS 
nicely  as  if  four  times  as  large.  The  intention  of  thefe 
cavities,  of  which  there  are  one  at  each  end  of  the 
hopper,  are  to  let  the  knife  pafb  into  them,  as  above- 
faid,  in  order  to  let  the  turneps,  which  are  in  the  hop- 
por,  fall  flat  upon  the  floor  of  the  Aider,  and  then  the 
edge  of  the  knife,  which  is  next  to  them,  as  foon  as  it 
emerges  out  of  the  cavity,  bites  the  turneps,  and  takes 
a  flice  of  any  thicknefs,  from  half  an  inch  to  one  inch 
three  quarters  at  pleafure,  the  whole  width  and  length 
of  the  hopper  at  one  flroke,  and  the  fame  in  its  return. 
In  fhort,  this  machine  makes  great  difpatch,  does  the 
bufinefs  very  neatly,  and  with  an  inconceivable  degree 
of  eafe  ;  is  very  Ample,  and  not  at  all  liable  to  be  out 
of  order,  otherwife  than  what  the  grinding-ftone  can 
readily  recEtify.  And  although  fome  people  have  un- 
dertaken to  {hew,  that  turneps  need  no  flicing,  it 
muft  be  acknowledged,  that,  where  fo  great  dif- 
patch can  be  made,  this,  or  any  other  inftrument 
which  does  the  buflnefb  as  well,  and  comes  at  fo  low  a 
price,  will  make  a  profitable  return  to  the  occupier,  in 
as  much  as,  by  its  means-,  the  rifque  of  choaking  is  en- 
tirely fuperfedcd,  waite  prevented,  and  cattle,  which 
have  not  been  accuflomed  to  cat  turneps,  entered  im- 
mediately to  feed  upon  that  valuable  efculent  ;  and 
alfo  makes  the  feeding  of  thofe  cattle,  which  even 
take  to  eating  turneps  unfliced,  lefs  difficult,  and  they 
feed  with  greater  expedition,  becaufe  when  the  turneps 
are  propeily  fliced,  an  ox,  ^c.  will  fill  himfelf  in  half 
the  time  it  will  take  him  to  do  it  when  he  has  the 
turneps  to  break  with  his  mouth,  which  is  fo  painful 
an  operation,  as  often  to  make  the  mouth  bleed,  fwell, 
Uc.  which  deters  them  from  eating  until  they  arc 
near  fiiii  vin'% 


E.':J  of  the  Third  Volume. 


/.•/.///. /y./^.^v/,/^.vv./ 


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